Works are continuing on the new $10.5million Nightcliff Renal Unit facility with stage one underway.
The newfacility is part of the program that is increasingaccess to renal facilities across the Northern Territory including remotecommunities.
The upgrade andexpansion of the fit-for-purpose Nightcliff Renal Unit will see an improvedlayout and environment for patients who receive dialysis and an additional fourdialysis chairs increasing the capacity to 32 chairs.
Local contractor Sitzler is undertakingthe works in three stages so patients can continue to receive treatment atNightcliff Renal.
Stageone includes the construction of a new clinical area being built adjacent tothe existing Nightcliff Renal Unit.
Basicframing of the new clinical area can now be seen, the electrical services roughin is taking shape and the roofing works continues.
In addition to the new clinical area, there will be a new patient consultationand reception area, new staff area including additional office space, improvedparking facilities and site landscaping.
Lifesavingdialysis treatment is just weeks away from being available at Pirlangimpi allowing residents to access renal facilities without the need to leave theircommunities and family.
The newfacility will allow trained patients to self-dialyse at a time convenient forthem and their families.
Quotesfrom the Minister for Health Natasha Fyles:
Many Territorians rely on life saving dialysis treatment everyyear with many of those Territorians accessing treatment at the NightcliffRenal Unit.
$10.5million was committed to the redevelopment of the Nightcliff Renal Unit toaddress issues with aging infrastructure and to upgrade and expand thefacility.
Quotesfrom the Member for Arafura Lawrence Costa:
Most people living in remotecommunities need to relocate to an urban centre in order to receive dialysistreatment, which is upsetting and disruptive to the patient and their family,and also costly. However, with the move towards self-care dialysis, renalpatients in remote communities, which in the case of the NT includes a largenumber of Aboriginal people, can instead receive treatment in their home community.
