[quote=beachy;7321]The Aussie public health system has the advantage of equality and availability for all and home dialysis training for those that want it where and when possible but… Trying to book into another Unit in Australia for some holiday dialysis even for a few days seems to be increasingly difficult. The Public Hospitals in most regional and metropolitan centres are sretched to the limit with staff not being able to offer any spare beds to “outsiders” due to financial constraints, staff shortages and the blow out in patients needing dialysis.
I am wondering whether this problem is the same in the States where there is more privately run clinics after business or other countries with a Public health system.
My concern in Australia and I have written lots of letters to various politicians etc is what happens to home patients if there is some sort of pandemic or a crisis like New Orleans here? Where do all the home patients go? My second concern is, where and when can we go for a holiday or some respite when we need it? In the States, are there places you can dialyse and stay (like rental homes) that I have heard about in other countries?[/quote]
Beachy I just saw this http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au/cph/news/media_New_Dialysis_Unit.asp
New Dialysis Unit- a fast-track for private patients awaiting dialysis treatment & A destination for holiday-makers on dialysis
26 September 2006[I]
The newly opened dialysis unit at Cairns Private Hospital is providing immediate access for private patients awaiting dialysis treatment. [/I]
The private unit’s four renal dialysis chairs combined with the hospital’s existing eight public chairs takes capacity from 32 to 48 patients per week.
CEO Richard Lizzio said until now private patients in need of dialysis treatment joined public patients on a priority list. Sorry don’t want to say anything about waiting times as it might be picked up as a negative by the press and we can’ the seen to be critical of the public hospital.
He said private patients will be given priority in this new unit. However, excess capacity stemming from these new chairs would be offered to public patients and private patients from elsewhere seeking a tropical getaway.
“Already we’ve had patients visiting Cairns for the first time. Just last week, we cared for a man who was on his first holiday in years…his first holiday since undergoing Renal Replacement Therapy.”
“ The opening of these four private renal dialysis chairs is only the first step towards building a comprehensive renal service for Cairns. We also believe the availability of a private renal unit in Cairns will help to attract a second renal physician which would be an excellent outcome for Cairns and Far North Queensland.”
“End-stage renal failure is a cruel disease in that it can drastically restrict a patient’s lifestyle, because in order to stay well they have to be hooked up to a blood cleaning machine for 4-7 hours three times a week. It makes travel a little daunting for many patients,” Mr Lizzio said.
From Cairns Private, Michael Posselt, a businessman from the Gold Coast said of his first trip to Cairns, “If it wasn’t for the unit, I wouldn’t be on holidays.”
“This unit is supplying a great service in an area of health where there is an immense shortage.”
Mr Posselt is on a waiting list for a kidney transplant and has been on dialysis for a year. “If I go without dialysing for three days I’d be very unwell. On the Gold Coast I do home dialysis. I get home from work, jump onto my machine and use the time to catch up on paper/ computer work. At home I have two, seven hour sessions and one, five hour session each week. On holidays I’m having three, five hour sessions.”
It is a little known fact that Renal Disease has the second highest incidence of chronic disease, behind cancer. The latest models issued by the Kidney Foundation predict a growth in new cases of between 19-47% by 2010.
Beachy would you be able to use this facility and get reimbursed? I don’t understand the Australian visitor policy in regard to the private/public units like Noosa and now Cairns. I, for one, am very happy that I can now return to Cairns.
) to a guy at the unit complaining about how he was pissed off that a week’s dx in Canberra, organised by the unit 12 months in advance, had been cancelled, without notice. He only knew about it because he’d rung the unit down there to confirm the sessions & check which times they wanted him for !! :roll: He asked them when were they going to tell him -when he got there?? “yes” !! :shock:
Thanks for your concern,amba.