On Country dialysis care for north-west Queensland communities

For people living with kidney disease, dialysis is a lifeline. It’s a treatment that does the job of the kidneys when they can no longer function properly.

The dialysis treatment filters waste, balances fluids and helps control blood pressure but dialysis isn’t a one-time fix; most people need it three times a week, for several hours at a time.

For patients in remote communities like Mornington Island and Doomadgee, access to this essential treatment has long been a challenge. Many have had to leave their families, communities, and Country behind to travel hundreds of kilometres to receive care in cities like Mount Isa or Townsville.

That’s why the recent expansion of renal services in North-West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS) is making such a difference. With a new six-chair dialysis unit at Mornington Island Hospital and two satellite chairs now available in Doomadgee, more people can receive care closer to home.

Lardil man Frank Watt, a Mornington Island resident and dialysis patient, knows firsthand what this means. For years, he had to leave his community for treatment, missing out on important moments with family and struggling with the isolation of being away.

Lardil man Frank Watt receiving dialysis treatment closer to home in Mornington Island.

‘I first did my dialysis in Townsville and went down there for a year and a half, nearly two years,’ Frank said.

‘[I] worked my way back to Mount Isa for a year, doing my dialysis there … I did good there and came home. We are very lucky to have the unit here.

"[It’s] very good here because after we finish our dialysis here, we can go home to our families."

The benefits of receiving treatment locally go beyond convenience. Continuity of care means patients can maintain regular contact with healthcare providers who understand their needs.

Being on Country, surrounded by familiar faces, also supports mental health and overall wellbeing—both crucial aspects of long-term treatment success.

NWHHS Renal Nurse Jomil Armatage said that his renal patients are more involved in their care now it’s closer to home.

"Here, our patients don’t miss dialysis and they don’t miss any medications," Jomil said.

"In these communities, family is valued and when they get to dialyse here, people feel a lot better."

Doomadgee’s new dialysis chairs have already helped four residents return home for their care, with plans to expand services even further in the future.

This expansion builds on similar efforts across rural Queensland, including the new three chair Central West renal unit at Longreach Hospital, which opened in April.

Director of Nursing at Mornington Island Hospital, Scott Windsor, said the impact on the community has been profound.

“It’s about more than just medical treatment,” Scott said.

“It’s about giving people the dignity of staying home and continuing to be part of their community. That makes a real difference to their quality of life.”

With the first phase of the NWHHS renal expansion project now complete, there’s renewed hope for more people living with kidney disease in North-West Queensland.

For patients like Frank Watt, being able to receive dialysis on Country means they can focus on living their lives and not just managing their illness.