Hobart Nephrology Care patients are appealing for better conditions
Patients receiving care for dialysis treatment have described the Hobart facility as something from the “Post-Berlin war”, calling for immediate action to upgrade the “depressing” centre.
Tasmania
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PATIENTS receiving care for dialysis treatment have described the Hobart facility as something from the “Post-Berlin war” and like a “ghetto,” sparking calls for immediate action.
Brendan Ross-Hunter has joined a growing list of patients from Nephrology South at the Carruthers Building in New Town, saying the infrastructure is ageing and questioning whether it was fit for purpose.
Mr Ross-Hunter started receiving dialysis treatment about one year ago after he was diagnosed with kidney disease 10 years ago.
He described Nephrology South as dated and old.
“It’s like something from the post Berlin war, it’s like a ghetto. Run-down, depressing, grey … and nothing’s being done for it.
“It’s a treatment centre, and it does not help you mentally feel that you’re in a positive environment.”
The windows hadn’t been cleaned in the 10 months Mr Ross-Hunter had been receiving treatment there.
“The lift is filthy,” he said, “It just does not look healthy.”
Mr Ross-Hunter said there’s one toilet for seven rooms, the latest room added was converted from a store room to meet patient demands, and now items are stored with patients.
“Constantly the merchandise that’s being brought in, people have to bring it in boxes, climb over you, and load it on the shelves because there’s nowhere else to store anything,” he said.
“There’s up to 48 people a session, morning sessions go from nine to one. There’s a break then and it starts again from three till about seven or eight at night, but its choc-a-block.”
The appeal for improvements follows a letter sent to patients from the Kidney Consumer Advisory Group, encouraging patients to contact their local members of parliament, outlining issues around the current funding for kidney disease treatments in Tasmania.
The Department of Health acknowledged that the St John’s Park facility was ageing but said there were plans about the future location of dialysis services.
“The Department of Health is committed to continuous improvement in the delivery of health services in Tasmania, including the buildings in which they are provided. We listen carefully to patient feedback and acknowledge concerns raised to determine how the experiences of patients could be improved.”
Mr Ross-Hunter’s partner Warren Lynch said they are limited in treatment choices.
“The only other dialysis units that are available are in the Royal Hobart Hospital,” Mr Lynch said.
“But you have to be an in-house patient to get dialysis while you’re in hospital.”
Mr Lynch has been with Mr Ross-Hunter for the past 32 years and is planning to donate one of his kidneys to his partner in the next three months.
Mr Ross-Hunter had nothing but good words to say about the staff at the centre
“The nursing staff and doctors are excellent, I couldn’t say better,” he said.
“They’re always pleasant, ready to listen to you, and they themselves make sure that cleanliness is A1.”
With two lifts in the building, Mr Ross-Hunter said one is often out of order and the other jolts, starts and stops, expressing concern about evacuating in the case of a fire.
“A lot of them on dialysis have diabetes so they’re physically handicapped so they’re on walkers and they’re on the third floor of this quite antiquated building.”
He said the TVs were slowly dying one by one.
“Not that that’s important normally, but if you’re there for four or five hours sitting in a chair in a room like that, you need something.”
The Health spokeperson denied some of the issues raised.
“This site is appropriately maintained and there are currently no issues with either of the two lifts in the Carruthers Building. Any maintenance issues that are identified are rectified as soon as possible. The building has an appropriate fire evacuation plan.”
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