Kidney centre lifechanging
Kidney centre lifechanging
The new Kererū Kidney Centre being built in Point England will make treatment much more accessible for patients who live in Tāmaki.
Tāmaki Regeneration (TRC) has provided Auckland District Health Board (Auckland DHB) with land to build the new centre on Point England Rd, which will offer community dialysis treatment and other kidney healthcare from August 2021.
Many Auckland DHB dialysis patients live in Tāmaki Regeneration’s area - Glen Innes, Point England and Panmure, alongside neighbouring suburbs. The new centre means they can have their treatment locally, rather than travelling to Auckland City Hospital, Greenlane Clinical Centre or Point Chevalier, often by taxi or public transport.
Local Whānau Ora coordinator Haikiu Baiabe, who works with the Tāmaki Cook Islands community, says the new centre will make a huge difference to many of his clients who currently travel to Greenlane three times a week for treatment. “This is recognising the needs of our Tāmaki community who have to go to other parts of the city for treatment. The patients I know are so excited they will be able to have their dialysis treatment locally, as many of them rely on public transport. Easy access to treatment is really important for them.”
TRC strategy manager John Chapman says the centre will offer a greater quality of life for Tāmaki whānau. “They’ll spend less time being stuck in taxis and hospitals. It’s also a more modern environment, which is easier for them to get to.”
Education about kidney health will also be a strong focus at the centre and will be provided with the help of the Kidney Society. Information about other health services will also be available. John says healthy neighbourhoods start with healthy communities. “Helping our Tāmaki community access health facilities is a really important part of building healthy communities, which TRC is keen to support through projects like the Kererū Kidney Centre. “We know the community has been asking for this centre for a along time, so it’s fantastic that it’s almost finished.”
Auckland DHB renal service clinical director Dr David Semple says building the new centre in Tāmaki is exciting. “Having a purpose-built centre where it’s most needed, in the community, will help us reduce the impact of kidney disease on patients and their whānau. “It will also allow us to get to know the community better and work more closely with the other health providers in the area. “We hope that the centre will become more than just a medical centre and also become a place for learning and education where the people of the Tāmaki area can better understand kidney disease and the steps they can take to protect their whānau.”
Kidney Society executive director Nora Van der Schrieck says her organisation is extremely proud to be involved in the Kererū Kidney Centre. “Since mid-2010 the society has worked closely with Auckland DHB to improve outpatient renal services, including providing community dialysis closer to home for as many patients as possible. “This involved close joint consultation with patients and whānau, took a lot of time and effort, but is finally close to being achieved when the Kererū Kidney Centre opens its doors to welcome patients soon.”
