Summary
The opening of a $10.37 million satellite renal dialysis unit at Capricorn Coast Hospital is improving access to life-saving treatment for local residents, marking a key milestone in enhancing healthcare services in the region.
For more than 15 years, coast resident Patsy Roberts has made the journey to Rockhampton Hospital’s Renal Unit three days a week to receive life-saving dialysis treatment.
She is one of about a dozen renal patients from the Capricorn Coast who have regularly travelled to Rockhampton for their dialysis.
However, Ms Roberts is among the first to receive dialysis closer to home, providing her with much-needed convenience and improved quality of life.
She is grateful to have closer access to her regular haemodialysis treatment.
“I’ve been with it since day dot,” she said. “They called me when the news came through about the announcement to build it, and I was able to see the plans.
“I’m very pleased there are windows in the new unit, so we’ll feel part of the world.”
Ms Roberts’s kidney disease is a hereditary condition, and her late mother Cheryl Stevens and late brother Dion Stevens would also have been thrilled to see the dialysis unit opening on the Capricorn Coast.
“I’m just over the moon,” she said. “You couldn’t take the smile off my face. It’s something Yeppoon needed. It’s such a step forward for Central Queensland.”
Central Queensland Health Chief Executive Lisa Blackler said demand for dialysis treatment was rising, and the opening of this Capricorn Coast service was a much-needed addition.
“This state-of-the-art facility will allow our dedicated renal staff to support patients to access their dialysis closer to home without travelling three times a week to Rockhampton,” she said.
“It will also alleviate pressure on Rockhampton Hospital’s Renal Service by freeing up capacity, allowing us to better support the growing demand for dialysis treatment in the region.”
The new eight-chair satellite dialysis unit is staffed by trained renal staff from Central Queensland Health’s Renal Service.
It forms part of the hub-and-spoke model of renal services based at Rockhampton Hospital.
Ms Blackler thanked Central Queensland Health staff, building contractor Paynters and Health Infrastructure Queensland for their work delivering this project.
“This is a beautiful new facility that will serve the people of the Capricorn Coast well and provide a fresh and modern workplace for our wonderful specialist renal nurses.”