Northern Territory Minister for Health Natasha Fyles

Life Saving Pirlangimpi Renal Ready Room Tender Awarded

Victor P Taffa

A tender for the construction of the Pirlangimpi Renal Ready Room a project that will provide lifesaving dialysis treatment for residents on the Tiwi Islands has been awarded to local contractor WTD Constructions for more than $590,000.

“Territory Government’s top priority is jobs and the Pirlangimpi Renal Ready Room will create many local jobs for Territorians.” Minister for Health Natasha Fyles said.

“We have committed $11.1 Million to the expansion of renal services infrastructure in the Territory including 2 remote renal ready rooms.”

Rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people on haemodialysis in the Territory and across Australia continues to rise.

Building a renal facility in Pirlangimpi allows residents to remain on country for their treatment, rather than travelling to Darwin where they are separated from family and community.

“Territory Government knows that when our bush communities are strong the Territory is strong.” Member for Arafura Lawrence Costa said.

“Kidney disease is already a huge problem on the Tiwi Islands and across the Territory and it’s important for our mob to be able to be with family on country when they get sick.”

Evidence shows that when residents who require renal dialysis stay in their community it improves treatment outcomes and their overall health and wellbeing.

There is a growing requirement to provide more flexible dialysis options for patients in the Northern Territory and a renal ready room enables patients to administer their own dialysis treatment, after being taught how to do so.

Increasing access to care closer to home is one of the priorities under the Renal Services Strategy 2017-2022 and construction of the Renal Ready Room is anticipated to be completed in March 2019.