In reference to Peat Hollis of Port Macquarie regarding Dialysis Chairs, I will give you the correct information.
I do not know if you are on dialysis but I was for eight years before my transplant.
I was also a member of the Hastings Renal Support Group and, from 1980, we lobbied for a Dialysis Centre here in Port because I and the other renal patients travelled to our parent hospitals either in Sydney or Newcastle for our treatment.
It took us 10 years to raise funds for a Satellite Centre which finally, after a lot of hard talking, managed to have a room at the Health Centre in Morton Street. As a group, we raised $160,000 for dialysis machines, chairs and anything else we needed for the Centre without, at that time, any help from Government.
For a number of years dialysis patients were at this Centre, but it became apparent that we needed a facility at the Base Hospital because it was becoming dangerous for dialysis patients. This was when we approached Rob Oakshott and Peter Besseling to help our cause which, in all fairness to them, did help us in earnest to bring it before the Parliament .
I would just like to inform you, Mr Hollis, that a lot of hard work from patients, carers and the community went into having the fine facility in the Dialysis Centre at the Port Macquarie Base Hospita. It did not just get there on a wish and a prayer
Anne Meister OAM
Sancrox
