❓ This parliamentary question and answer reveal concerns about underutilised renal dialysis capacity in Albany and inadequate accommodation support for regional patients forced to travel to Perth for treatment, highlighting potential inequities in support services.
AnsweredQoN 2335Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to renal dialysis services in Albany, including concerns that existing capacity is not being fully utilised and that patients are being required to relocate to Perth for treatment placing them under significant financial pressure due to limited accommodation support.:(a) How many renal dialysis chairs are currently available at Albany Health Campus;(b) how many days per week does the Albany renal dialysis service operate;(c) How many dialysis shifts are provided each operating day;(d) How many patients currently receive in-centre dialysis at Albany Health Campus;(e) Of those patients, how many travel from outside Albany to receive dialysis at Albany Health Campus;(f) How many patients in Albany and surrounding areas are serviced by the Albany Renal Service to receive home dialysis;(g) Are the in-house renal nurses also responsible for providing this service or are there dedicated home dialysis renal nurses;(h) How many patients are currently on a waitlist to return to Albany to receive dialysis services locally;(i) What accommodation support is currently available for regional renal patients required to stay in Perth for treatment:(i) actual accommodation options; or; and(ii) dollar value per day;(j) Is the Minister aware that targeted accommodation and support services exist for Aboriginal renal patients in Perth;(k) What equivalent accommodation or support services are available to non-Aboriginal renal patients required to stay in Perth;(l) If no equivalent services exist, how does the Minister justify this inequity in access to accommodation and support;(m) What steps are being taken to increase renal dialysis capacity and service availability in Albany, including:(i) additional operating days;(ii) additional daily shifts;(iii) additional dialysis chairs;(iv) increased staffing; and(v) expanded support for home dialysis; and(n) What is the current projected timeframe for any planned expansion or increase in renal dialysis services in Albany?
I refer to renal dialysis services in Albany, including concerns that existing capacity is not being fully utilised and that patients are being required to relocate to Perth for treatment placing them under significant financial pressure due to limited accommodation support.:
(a) How many renal dialysis chairs are currently available at Albany Health Campus;
(b) how many days per week does the Albany renal dialysis service operate;
(c) How many dialysis shifts are provided each operating day;
(d) How many patients currently receive in-centre dialysis at Albany Health Campus;
(e) Of those patients, how many travel from outside Albany to receive dialysis at Albany Health Campus;
(f) How many patients in Albany and surrounding areas are serviced by the Albany Renal Service to receive home dialysis;
(g) Are the in-house renal nurses also responsible for providing this service or are there dedicated home dialysis renal nurses;
(h) How many patients are currently on a waitlist to return to Albany to receive dialysis services locally;
(i) What accommodation support is currently available for regional renal patients required to stay in Perth for treatment:
(i) actual accommodation options; or; and
(ii) dollar value per day;
(j) Is the Minister aware that targeted accommodation and support services exist for Aboriginal renal patients in Perth;
(k) What equivalent accommodation or support services are available to non-Aboriginal renal patients required to stay in Perth;
(l) If no equivalent services exist, how does the Minister justify this inequity in access to accommodation and support;
(m) What steps are being taken to increase renal dialysis capacity and service availability in Albany, including:
(i) additional operating days;
(ii) additional daily shifts;
(iii) additional dialysis chairs;
(iv) increased staffing; and
(v) expanded support for home dialysis; and
(n) What is the current projected timeframe for any planned expansion or increase in renal dialysis services in Albany?
I refer to renal dialysis services in Albany, including concerns that existing capacity is not being fully utilised and that patients are being required to relocate to Perth for treatment placing them under significant financial pressure due to limited accommodation support.:
(a) How many renal dialysis chairs are currently available at Albany Health Campus;
(b) how many days per week does the Albany renal dialysis service operate;
(c) How many dialysis shifts are provided each operating day;
(d) How many patients currently receive in-centre dialysis at Albany Health Campus;
(e) Of those patients, how many travel from outside Albany to receive dialysis at Albany Health Campus;
(f) How many patients in Albany and surrounding areas are serviced by the Albany Renal Service to receive home dialysis;
(g) Are the in-house renal nurses also responsible for providing this service or are there dedicated home dialysis renal nurses;
(h) How many patients are currently on a waitlist to return to Albany to receive dialysis services locally;
(i) What accommodation support is currently available for regional renal patients required to stay in Perth for treatment:
(i) actual accommodation options; or; and
(ii) dollar value per day;
(j) Is the Minister aware that targeted accommodation and support services exist for Aboriginal renal patients in Perth;
(k) What equivalent accommodation or support services are available to non-Aboriginal renal patients required to stay in Perth;
(l) If no equivalent services exist, how does the Minister justify this inequity in access to accommodation and support;
(m) What steps are being taken to increase renal dialysis capacity and service availability in Albany, including:
(i) additional operating days;
(ii) additional daily shifts;
(iii) additional dialysis chairs;
(iv) increased staffing; and
(v) expanded support for home dialysis; and
(n) What is the current projected timeframe for any planned expansion or increase in renal dialysis services in Albany?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 June 2026
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
8 days
a) Six
b) Six days a week
c) Two shifts per day (morning and afternoon shift)
d) As of 20 May 2026, 22 are patients receiving dialysis at Albany Health Campus
e) Six
f) 15
g) Home therapies are provided to appropriate patients by Fresenius Kidney Care under a WA Health statewide contract.
h) As of 20 May 2026, no patients are on the waitlist to receive dialysis services in Albany.
i) The Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) provides financial subsidies for eligible WA country residents to reduce the cost of accessing the closest specialist medical services that are not available locally.
i.i and i.ii)
PATS reimburses $110 per night for commercial accommodation with an additional $15 per night for an approved support person, for a maximum of 6 six months. After this time, PATS considers reimbursement on a case-by-case basis. PATS subsidy is also available where the patient chooses to stay with family or friends at a rate of $20/night for patient and $20/night for an approved support person.
j) Yes
k - l)
Country PatHS is a journey coordination and support service for vulnerable people and their supports travelling to the Perth metropolitan area to access specialist medical care. Hospital social work departments can also support patients when discharged from tertiary hospitals with accommodation and transport options.
m) (i)- (v)
WA Country Health Service continues to closely monitor and respond to demand for regional dialysis. The Department of Health is progressing the current tender for Statewide Community Based Renal Dialysis Services (including home therapies) NMHS202410089.
n) WA Health regularly undertakes reviews in clincial settings to evolving community needs.
b) Six days a week
c) Two shifts per day (morning and afternoon shift)
d) As of 20 May 2026, 22 are patients receiving dialysis at Albany Health Campus
e) Six
f) 15
g) Home therapies are provided to appropriate patients by Fresenius Kidney Care under a WA Health statewide contract.
h) As of 20 May 2026, no patients are on the waitlist to receive dialysis services in Albany.
i) The Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) provides financial subsidies for eligible WA country residents to reduce the cost of accessing the closest specialist medical services that are not available locally.
i.i and i.ii)
PATS reimburses $110 per night for commercial accommodation with an additional $15 per night for an approved support person, for a maximum of 6 six months. After this time, PATS considers reimbursement on a case-by-case basis. PATS subsidy is also available where the patient chooses to stay with family or friends at a rate of $20/night for patient and $20/night for an approved support person.
j) Yes
k - l)
Country PatHS is a journey coordination and support service for vulnerable people and their supports travelling to the Perth metropolitan area to access specialist medical care. Hospital social work departments can also support patients when discharged from tertiary hospitals with accommodation and transport options.
m) (i)- (v)
WA Country Health Service continues to closely monitor and respond to demand for regional dialysis. The Department of Health is progressing the current tender for Statewide Community Based Renal Dialysis Services (including home therapies) NMHS202410089.
n) WA Health regularly undertakes reviews in clincial settings to evolving community needs.
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