Western NSW Health District has rejected suggestions patients travelling from Nyngan to Dubbo for renal dialysis were told to supply their own blankets while undergoing treatment at Dubbo Hospital.
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It comes after Bogan Shire Mayor Ray Donald said council had sent “a strong letter of disapproval to the health minister and others about the recent directive given to the three Nyngan residents who have to regularly travel to Dubbo for dialysis’’.
However, according to the hospital’s general manager, Debbie Bickerton, that was not the case.
“There has never been nor will there be a policy directing patients from Nyngan who access renal dialysis services at Dubbo Hospital, to provide their own blankets,’’ she said.
“Patients are permitted to use their own blankets if they wish to, and some patients choose to do this, however blankets provided by the hospital are always available for all patients using the service.’’
But Cr Donald had more issues to raise on behalf of Nyngan’s dialysis patients which he said needed to be addressed sooner rather than later.
“It is bad enough that they have to travel to Dubbo three times a week, sometimes at their own expense,’’ he said.
“They need to go to Dubbo at the moment but hopefully if there is some funding forthcoming from the sale of the poles and wires, that could change, and some extra state funding could fix this.’’
Western NSW LHD northern sector manager Joy Adams said the cost of the transport for patients who travelled to Dubbo three times a week for renal dialysis was subsidised by Home and Community Care Services. Because the patients travelled via community transport, they were not eligible for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).
However, there could be be light at the end of the tunnel for Nyngan’s dialysis services, according to Ms Adams.
“In its planning for future renal services across the region, the Western NSW LHD recognises that Nyngan could become a satellite renal dialysis service providing outreach to the surrounding community,’’ she said.
“Expansion of the Nyngan service will require investment in building a space for dialysis chairs and appropriately trained staff.
“The Nyngan Health Council has been working with local health service management and the LHD to realise the renal plan in Nyngan.’’
