Relief for dialysis patients thanks to new centre

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard officially opened Mount Druitt’s $3.5 million Community Dialysis Centre today, marking the completion of Stage 2 of the Mount Druitt Hospital expansion project.

“Mount Druitt residents will no longer have to travel for renal services with a first-class dialysis centre on the hospital grounds, part of the more than $700 million redevelopment of Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals,” Ms Berejiklian said.

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“This is the latest achievement from our $7.7 billion investment in health infrastructure across the State to improve the timeliness and quality of healthcare for all in NSW.”

Mount Druitt Hospital’s Stage 2 expansion included:

• A new MRI unit, providing a non-invasive diagnostic service;
• A new recovery area, including peri-operative support;
• A refurbished digital operating theatre;
• A Centre for Addiction Medicine, including consultation, counselling and support;
• The relocation of existing pre-admission clinics to a new purpose-built unit.

Mr Hazzard said the 12-chair dialysis centre has the capacity to deliver 144 sessions a week to 48 patients needing kidney dialysis.

“Patients now have spacious renal services on their doorstep in a relaxed garden setting, which is terrific given patients on dialysis are in hospital up to five hours at a time, three times a week,” Mr Hazzard said.

Stage 1, completed in 2016, expanded Mount Druitt’s emergency department. Bureau of Health Information figures out today show 81 per cent of patients are completing their treatment under four hours compared to 73 per cent in the same period last year.

Work is continuing on nearby Blacktown Hospital’s acute services building, due for completion in 2019. More information: http://www.bmdhproject.health.nsw.gov.au/