Kidney dialysis patients from the Mountains who have been making the long trek to Nepean Hospital for treatment will soon be able to travel closer to home, with news of plans to establish a dialysis unit at Katoomba Hospital.
NSW health minister, Jillian Skinner, made the announcement of the $4.5 million centre at the hospital last week.
Mrs Skinner said patients from the Mountains, and some from as far away as Lithgow, have had to make the long trip to Penrith up to three times a week for treatment.
She said the new facility would be tailor-made for the purpose and would include six dialysis chairs.
"Dialysis patients will be able to receive the treatment they need closer to home in a hospital which has a homely feel and a very caring staff."
Mrs Skinner said she had been asked some time ago by a mother to establish renal dialysis closer to her home for the sake of her son.
"[This] announcement is a pledge kept, not just by me but by Roza Sage, who has been a passionate advocate for her community."
Mrs Sage welcomed the funding commitment.
"The people of the Blue Mountains are rightly proud of their hospital and passionate about the services it provides. Construction of a renal dialysis unit has been a key focus and I am delighted the Baird government will deliver it if we are re-elected on March 28."
The hospital's general manager, Andrea Williams, said the new centre, which would give patients a garden outlook, will be set up in the current education unit. The unit will move to the main hospital, gaining more room for its facilities, "so everyone wins", she said.
Mrs Williams said she could see demand for such services increasing as the population ages.
Labor candidate for the Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle, said she would fight for improvements to renal dialysis at Blue Mountains hospital, but any promise involving health should not involve the sale of the electricity network.
