Katoomba's $4.7 million Community Dialysis Centre opened at Blue Mountains hospital on Monday, July 1.
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The new satellite service for the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) is set to bring essential dialysis services closer to home and is part of the Western Renal Service.
The purpose-built centre provides six dialysis treatment spaces, designed in consultation with staff and patients and can accommodate up to 24 people.
There is natural light in the area which also features calming local artwork, to promote an atmosphere of healing and well-being.
NBMLHD Head of Renal Medicine professor Kamal Sud said patients with severe kidney failure in need of life sustaining treatment who were unable to do dialysis in their homes would benefit from the satellite service.
"The new centre is able to provide three dialysis treatments a week to patients in the Blue Mountains and Lithgow area, prior to this centre opening these patients needed to travel to Penrith to receive treatment," he said.
He said Lithgow patients who required life saving dialysis could access renal care either in Katoomba or at Bathurst Health Service Renal Dialysis unit, without the pressures of having to travel long distances several times a week.
"There is an option for Lithgow residents in need of life sustaining dialysis at Katoomba or Bathurst, they should speak with their renal specialists to discuss eligibility for each of the services," he said.
Prior to opening up the doors to patients, NBMLHD staff and community members joined Aboriginal Elder Paul Glass for a traditional smoking ceremony to cleanse the new centre.
Guests were also taken on a tour of the new contemporary building which is located on the north eastern side of the Blue Mountains hospital.
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Alanna Tomazin
Alanna is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on education. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at alanna.tomazin@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Alanna is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on education. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at alanna.tomazin@austcommunitymedia.com.au
