Special ceremony for Mount Druitt dialysis centre

Posted 02 Dec 2016



The commencement of building work on the second stage of the Mount Druitt Hospital expansion was marked with a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony on Thursday 1 December 2016.

 
Local Aboriginal Elder Uncle Greg Simms performed the ceremony and Elders, staff and patients gathered earth to create a future art project that will reflect local Aboriginal culture.
 
Stage 2 works at Mount Druitt Hospital will be completed by mid-2017 and will include:
 
  • NEW standalone community dialysis centre, with 12 spacious treatment bays for patients and carers, garden views and dedicated parking
  • NEW MRI unit for a non-invasive diagnostic service, useful for paediatric patients
  • Additional recovery space including peri-operative support refurbishment and an additional operating room
  • Drug health expansion, next to the existing privately-operated facility with consulting, counselling and support areas
  • Relocation of the existing pre-admission clinics to a new purpose-built facility
 
The works are part of the more than $700 million Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals expansion project, which has already delivered new facilities at Mount Druitt Hospital for rehabilitation, dental care, emergency, urgent care, and major infrastructure upgrades.
 
Mount Druitt Hospital general manager Sue-Anne Redmond said the expansion would ensure the hospital would continue to grow and meet the community’s needs.
 
“The new facilities will provide more services close to home for the local community and an enhanced capacity to meet the increasing demand for dialysis, drug health and surgery,” she said.
 
“We’ve also listened to our community and will be welcoming a brand new MRI.”
 
One of the first projects to be completed in 2017 will be the new dialysis centre. It will have the capacity to provide more than 150 dialysis sessions a week, with each session taking about six hours and most patients attending three times a week.
 
Renal physician Professor Jeremy Chapman said diabetes, genetic factors and high blood pressure were the top three causes of kidney failure requiring dialysis.
 
“The new facility will help us better manage the increasing demand for dialysis. Having the service closer to home will help reduce time and money costs of travelling to Blacktown or Nepean for treatment three times a week,” said Professor Chapman.
 
The award-winning Stage 1 arts program will continue in Stage 2 to ensure the facilities are welcoming and reflect local Aboriginal and community culture.

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