Rann & Hill’s APY Renal Disgrace

15/03/10 11:00 am

The Greens have slammed the announcement by Health Minister John Hill that the SA Government has negotiated to slash the number of renal patients from the APY lands treated in Alice Springs by half.

On Friday, Minister Hill said that the SA Government has negotiated with the NT Government to reduce the number treated from the current 16 to 8, with any new patients forced to relocate to Adelaide, Port Augusta or Port Pirie.

“This is a disgraceful cop out,” said Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

“Far from fixing the emerging crisis that has building for the last few years, the Rann Government has chosen a policy direction that will decimate APY eldership on the lands.

“People from the APY lands who need renal dialysis treatment generally tend to be older. The APY community needs these elders to stay where they are – not relocate their home thousands of kilometres south to Adelaide or Port Pirie,” he said.

Last week the Senate voted in favour of a Greens motion calling on the Commonwealth Government to intervene to sort out the long lasting cross-border dialysis crisis in Central Australia.

The vote came as it was revealed former staffer and board member of the NPY Women's Council, Nura Ward, is the latest victim of the SA Government’s unwillingness to negotiate a culturally appropriate solution. Despite the fact that Ms Ward has family support in Alice Springs, she has been told she will have to move to Adelaide, about 1,400 kilometres south of her home, for ongoing dialysis treatment.

“Friday’s announcement solves absolutely nothing,” said Mr Parnell.

“Instead of boosting funding to enable more South Australians to be treated in Alice Springs, the Rann Government has slashed the numbers by half.

“The Greens call for Minister Hill to do an urgent re-think and fund the treatment of new renal patients from the APY lands in Alice Springs until long term treatment options are in place on the Lands,” he said.
 

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