ROEBOURNE DIALYSIS CONFUSION CLEARED UP
The community supported home dialysis is at Mawankarra Health Service in Roebourne.
In the Pilbara, Mawankarra Health Service has clarified it manages the community supported home dialysis unit in Roebourne, despite previously stating WA Country Health Service runs the facility.
A spokesperson said the building was constructed by the WA Country Health Service.
“Mawarnkarra is responsible for the upkeep of the building and provides meals and transport to patients attending the unit,” they said.
“Although the facility is unstaffed, both the patients and machines are managed by Fresenius Kidney Care Australia from Perth.”
Fresenius Kidney Care has been contacted for comment.
Patients who require nurse-supervised treatment must travel to either Hedland or Perth.
Nyul Nyul man and Pilbara resident James Dann said he would like to see a staffed dialysis unit in Roebourne, but WA’s nurse shortage would make that difficult.
“It would be good, if not in Roebourne maybe in Karratha, but Roebourne definitely,” he said.
“But given what’s happening with the nurses and all that I think it would be pretty hard to ask for something to happen here.”