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Delivering a Healthy WA
Health Networks - Collaborative health care planning for the whole community

Renal Health Network

There are some great activities taking place in our network right now, including:

 

Launch of chronic health condition frameworks

Our network is grouped with five other networks that share an interest in chronic health conditions.

Read about the launch of the: WA Chronic Health Conditions Framework 2011–2016; and WA Chronic Conditions Self–Management Strategic Framework 2011–2015.

This and other joint projects are underway and detailed on the chronic health conditions news page.

Change to Renal Health Network leadership

Consultant nephrologist Dr Ashley Irish has resigned as Renal Health Network Co-lead to focus on his clinical cluster lead role within the South Metropolitan Area Health Service.

Making an important contribution as a co-lead of the network since it was established in September 2006, Ashley provided considerable input to developing the Chronic Kidney Disease Model of Care (PDF), WA Dialysis Plan 2008–2013, and was the lead author of the newly released Framework to Improve Home Dialysis Therapy in Western Australia (PDF).

Ashley is committed to: clinical research and audit; improving vascular access clinical practices; and providing care to remote Western Australian communities. As the only visiting renal specialist for the Pilbara in the last 14 years, he has provided critical care and advice to remote communities.

“These remote Aboriginal communities have rates of kidney disease 30 times higher than in Australia’s major cities,” Ashley said.

“The enormity of the problem can be overwhelming and given the difficulties of cultural differences delivering care can be challenging.”

Ashley’s experience and the years working in the north west with Aboriginal people bring a valuable perspective on the needs of these communities in forming renal policies and planning.

We wish Ashley the very best in carrying out his continuing role and are pleased that he will continue to be a member of our Executive Advisory Group.

Dr Harry Moody continues his role as the Renal Health Network lead.

Home therapy framework now available

The Framework to Improve Home Dialysis Therapy in Western Australia (PDF) is now available.

The home therapy services project aims to increase home dialysis from 23 per cent to 33 per cent by 2013, as recommended in the WA Plan for Dialysis 2008–13.

Dialysis services provided in the home, known as home therapies, improve the quality of life and provide greater flexibility for patients.

The benefits of dialysing at home include:

  • reduced expense of travel and parking problems
  • fewer set clinical appointments
  • less interruption of work hours
  • less disruption of lifestyle activities and time away from family
  • community and close family support for people living remotely and rurally.

Living kidney donor research funded

The National Health and Medical Research Council has agreed to fund the recruitment of Australian participants for a landmark international long-term study of living kidney donors.

Led in Western Australia by Executive Advisory Group members Associate Professor Neil Boudville and former network co-lead Dr Ashley Irish, the study is investigating the long-term health risks of living kidney donors.

A kidney transplant is the best treatment option for patients with kidney failure; it increases a recipient’s life expectancy and quality of life, and is less costly than dialysis.

A living kidney donation, as the term suggests, is the donation of the healthy, functioning kidney by a living person. The surgical risks to the living donor are small and well-established. On the other hand the long-term health risks are less certain.

This study will recruit living kidney donors from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital and Fremantle Hospital. Donors will also be recruited from Royal Adelaide Hospital and Monash Hospital.

Internationally, recruitment is occurring in over 10 centres around the world.

Chronic kidney disease clinics funded statewide

We are pleased to announce that North Metropolitan Area Health Service has been awarded money from the Quality Incentive Program (QuIP) to establish advanced chronic kidney disease management clinics.

This is part of the statewide implementation of the Chronic Kidney Disease Model of Care, supporting the goals of the Renal Health Network to improve services.

Dr Sharan Dogra is leading the project, with the funded clinics located at Royal Perth Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Fremantle Hospital.

Big Red Walk a big success

Chief Medical Officer Dr Simon Towler opened the Big Red Walk event run by Kidney Health Australia (external site) in Kings Park last October to raise awareness of chronic kidney disease.

“The Big Red Walk was a great success and was very enjoyable to see so many people committed to raising awareness of this disease,” said Simon.

The Big Red Walk 2012 (external site) is planned for Sunday 16 October to mark the start of kidney health week in Western Australia.

This fundraising event, along with sponsorship from LotteryWest, helps Kidney Health Australia (external site) to offer patient support programs.

An example of this is the Henry Giblett Holiday Dialysis Program that allows a person on dialysis and their family to enjoy a holiday to Busselton with dialysis services arranged.

To help Kidney Health Australia (external site) expand their support programs, email wa@kidney.org.au or call Colin Finch 9381 9311.

Renal nurse practitioner presents at symposium

Armadale Health Service Renal Nurse Practitioner Casey Light presented at the University of Western Australia (UWA) Multidisciplinary Health Symposium for Care of the Diabetic Patient in October 2011.

Casey is an active member of our network, and outlined the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis and management for diabetic nephropathy.

“Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end stage kidney disease in Australia. It is potentially preventable or delayed with early detection and intense early treatment,” she said.
“Over 4.5 million people in Australia are at risk of developing chronic kidney disease due to diabetes or hypertension.”

With a range of speakers drawn from the multidisciplinary health care team, the symposium offered a platform for health practitioners to share their expertise and build their interpersonal networks.

Other topics covered at the symposium included managing blood glucose, retinopathy and complex care.

Poster presentation at annual nephrologist meeting

Armadale Health Service Renal Nurse Practitioner Casey Light, in partnership with Fremantle Hospital’s Specialist Renal Physician Dr Hemant Kulkarni, presented a poster at the 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting (external site) for the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology held in September in Adelaide.

The poster presented information about a pilot study into Cholecalciferol therapy for the vitamin D deficient haemodialysis population.

The abstract for this presentation was published in the Nephrology journal published in September 2011 (external site).

Free kidney information sessions in 2012

WA Renal Education Services is holding information sessions for people with kidney disease in partnership with Kidney Health Australia and supported by Fremantle Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital, and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

Kidney Care 1: Making a difference, keeping healthy and feeling good
Renal education program for people with mild to moderate kidney disease for how to manage kidney health.

  • Saturday 25 February 2012
  • Saturday 25 August 2012

Kidney Care 2: Treatment choices
Renal education program for people with moderate to severe kidney disease and the treatment choices available.

  • Saturday 24 March 2012
  • Saturday 23 June 2012
  • Saturday 20 October 2012

Contact your hospital for more information, or ask your doctor about which hospital to call:

Fremantle Hospital: Sandie Porter, (08) 9431 3683
Royal Perth Hospital: Rebecca Bartlett (08) 9224 3819
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital: Lotta Ekstrom (08) 9346 1665

For information about kidney care, contact Kidney Health Australia 1800 4 KIDNEY (1800 454 3639)

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