Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay wants a four-chair dialysis unit at Glen Innes Hospital, which will also assist Tenterfield patients.
Mr Torbay has called for the unit to be included in the current Network Services Planning process being conducted by Hunter New England Health.
“Planning should begin to establish a dialysis unit at Glen Innes Hospital to meet the needs of patients in the Glen Innes Severn area and also of those in Tenterfield, further north, who currently travel to Lismore, Stanthorpe or Toowoomba for treatment,” he told Parliament recently.
“Sessions last from five to six hours, three days a week,” Mr Torbay said. “With long hours of travel on top of that, patients are worn out and very stressed and their families and doctors are very concerned about it.”
He said a unit at Glen Innes would alleviate the stress for Tenterfield residents.
“What happens when Stanthorpe is full? A four-chair unit at Glen Innes would be a great back up.
“Absolute basic access to health services in regional areas is a must as it’s our right,” Mr Torbay said.
Story: Rebecca Brown
