Kidney transplant services coming to Townsville in 2025

North Queenslanders will soon be able to get kidney transplants in Townsville, and go through their recovery a lot closer to their homes and families.

North Queensland Kidney Transplant lead Dr Michelle Harfield with Townsville Hospital and Health Service director of planning Billy Bragg in the TUH renal dialysis unit.

North Queenslanders will be able to stay closer to home for a lifesaving surgery with the only kidney transplant service outside of the southeast corner receiving a $15m commitment from the state government.

The North Queensland Kidney Transplant Service will treat patients across North Queensland including Cairns, Mackay, Cape York, Torres Strait Islands and Mount Isa, along with Townsville locals.

Townsville was selected as the new home for the service in 2021, after it went up against Cairns for the program during the 2020 state election.

Transplant surgeries will be provided at Townsville University Hospital, but pre- and post-transplant care will be delivered at other hospitals across the catchment closer to where patients live, according to the state government.

There will be 40 new roles created as a result of the service.

The Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said it could be for vulnerable Queenslanders who need to leave their homes and loved ones for months on end and travel south for treatment.

North Queensland Kidney Transplant lead Dr Michelle Harfield with Townsville Hospital and Health Service director of planning Billy Bragg in the TUH renal dialysis unit.

“Today’s announcement means people will no longer have to travel and instead can receive their kidney transplant, as well as the care required before and after, closer to home,” she said.

The first transplant is expected to take place in under two years, earmarked for early 2025.

Before then, patients and clinicians across northern Queensland’s five health services will need to work together to design what the government calls a ‘uniquely northern’ approach to kidney transplantation.

The $15m will be used to design the model of care needed, and fund specialist equipment, and staffing, a Department of Health spokesman said.

North Queensland Kidney Transplant lead, Dr Michelle Harfield, pointed out a clear mismatch in the current health system.

‘‘We have higher rates of dialysis here in north Queensland but lower rates of transplantation due to the geographic burden travelling to and from Brisbane has on our northern Queensland patients,” Dr Harfield said.

“Thanks to this funding, we know more patients will have a transplant rather than staying on dialysis, and in doing so, will live longer and healthier lives.”

Dr Harfield said kidney disease disproportionately affects disadvantaged, rural, and First Nations people.

“Unfortunately, the tyranny of distance means some patients decline a lifesaving transplant and instead spend many weeks, months, and years on dialysis in an effort to stay close to home.

‘‘I look forward to seeing kidney transplant rates for disadvantaged people, including First Nations people, increase through our commitment to creating a service designed to meet the needs of our community and one that is culturally welcoming and safe,” she said.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Kieren Keyes claims the transplants will change the lives of 30 people within 12 months of opening.

“We expect the number of transplantations will grow in the future and, also, strengthen our position as the tertiary referral hospital for the region,” he said.

Originally published as Kidney transplant services coming to Townsville in 2025