The Wilcannia Care on Country Haemodialysis Project is a project that responds directly to Community voices and concerns about the need for accessible, sustainable and ongoing dialysis services to be provided on Country and in Wilcannia. The project commenced to respond to significant Community hurt, frustration and suffering around healthcare. To understand these needs, the Director of Aboriginal Health and Community Relations in Far West NSW LHD took the time to sit down with Community members and listen to them.
Following this deep listening, a more in-depth consultation was conducted in collaboration with Western NSW LHD and the Murdii Paakii Regional Assembly Aboriginal Community Working Parties. These consultations showed that the lack of dialysis services in Wilcannia was a key concern for the Community that has been raised to the health system for over 20 years. The Community expressed the burden of travelling 1200km a week to access dialysis services and the significant financial, psychological and emotional distress it caused. In response to these concerns from the Community, Far West NSW LHD consulted with multiple partners to develop the most appropriate and sustainable solution to meet the Community need.
The project team engaged Sydney LHD (who currently supplies the visiting Nephrologist to Wilcannia) and South Australia Royal Adelaide Hospital (who will provide medical review and oversight to the new unit) to participate in the project planning and working groups to ensure services are sustainable. The project team also engaged with the Commonwealth to ensure the local ACCHO is resourced to assist with prevention and early intervention for renal services. Connection and collaboration with the Community is ongoing to inform the project design and delivery. The project is working to open a sustainable service in partnership with the Community, local ACCHO and multiple stakeholders that will be available to the Community for many years to come.
Patient, carer, family and community Principle 1
