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12/05/2009
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 Media
Release
12 May 2009
D Day For Dialysis - MPs Urged to Visit Kidney
Patients A
total of 9,642 people were receiving dialysis treatment
at the end of 2007.
 Kidney Health Australia has urged
all Members of State and Federal Parliament to visit
their local Renal Unit and 'MAKE A NOISE ABOUT THE
SILENT KILLER' as part of Kidney Health Week 24-30
May 2009, saying many dialysis patients are being
affected by the economic
downturn.
Anne Wilson,
CEO of Kidney Health Australia said visits from Federal
and State Members of Parliament to their local
Renal Units in the upcoming Kidney Health Week would
give patients and staff a boost and provide Members of
Parliament with first hand knowledge on the impact of
Chronic Kidney Disease on individuals and their
families.
Image left: Tate undergoing dialysis
treatment in hospital.
The visits also provide
Members of Parliament the opportunity to gain personal
experience of the high quality of care provided by Renal
Units in their electorates.
The
Prime Minister's wife, Therese Rein will visit
haemodialysis patients and staff at the Canberra
Community Dialysis Centre in Garran as part of the
week's activities to raise public awareness of kidney
disease.
Ms Wilson said the major problem in creating an
awareness about Chronic Kidney Disease is that people
can lose up to 90% of the use of the Kidneys without
even knowing it making it the
Silent Killer.
National Contact
List for Renal
Units Click
on the link, scroll down for
telephone numbers. How many Australians have Treatment for
Kidney Failure?
The most
recent data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis
and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry show:
* 2,311
people started kidney replacement therapy (dialysis or
transplant) in 2007.
*
The number
of people on dialysis increased by 4% from 2006 to 2007,
and has averaged a 6% growth rate per year over the past
decade.
*
Although
Indigenous Australians represent less than 2.5% of the
national population, they account for approximately 10%
of people commencing kidney replacement therapy.
* 549
of people diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease are
referred 'late' to a nephrologist i.e. less than 3
months before first treatment for kidney
failure.
Dialysis
* A
total of 9,642 people were receiving dialysis treatment
at the end of 2007.
* 24%
were receiving dialysis at a hospital, 31% were
dialysing at home and 45% in satellite centres.
Media Enquiries:
Anne
Wilson, CEO, Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0400
165 391
Ron Smith, National Communications
Manager, Kidney Health Australia
Mobile: 0417 329 201
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