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Dialysis for Kaitaia _ no strings - THURSDAY JULY 8, 2010

The Northland DHB has rejected the inference contained in an article published on July 1, 'Dialysis in Kaitaia - maybe,' that there is any doubt that a unit will be established at Kaitaia Hospital and that the introduction of the service will depend upon public fund raising.
"The article gives the impression that unless $50,000 is raised by the community the new renal dialysis unit at Kaitaia Hospital is at risk or will not be undertaken," acting chief executive for the DHB Kim Tito said. "The Northland DHB is unconditionally committed to the establishment and on-going funding of a renal dialysis unit at Kaitaia Hospital. There will be a renal dialysis unit in Kaitaia, so it is inaccurate to use the word 'maybe'," he said.
Nor was the DHB planning to trial renal dialysis equipment at Kaitaia, as stated last week. The renal equipment the district health board planned to use within the new renal dialysis unit at Kaitaia Hospital was already well proven clinically. 
Mr Tito noted that The Northland Age had published an article on April 13 stating that the Save Our Hospital Services committee had offered to raise funds towards the establishment of the unit. That offer was publicly repeated last week, but the success or failure of that appeal would have no impact on the final outcome.
"Northland DHB is grateful for all fundraising activities and donations from members of the community but in this particular instance the district health board is not reliant on funds from other sources to establish a renal dialysis unit in Kaitaia," he said. "We are very supportive of Save Our Hospital Services' fundraising work currently under way, and hope that the community supports them and helps us deliver a better Far North renal dialysis service."
The Save Our Hospital Services Committee and the DHB have been discussing the provision of renal dialysis at Kaitaia for more than three years, committee chairman Gordon Bibb welcoming the decision to establish the unit as a huge benefit for those who had to travel to Kawakawa or Whangarei for dialysis, now or in the future.
The committee has now set out to raise $50,000 as the community's contribution to the unit. An account has been opened at the ANZ Bank in Kaitaia, and donations may be made there, or posted to PO Box 505 Kaitaia.
Anyone who would like to offer any form of support, in cash, kind, or just ideas, is welcome to contact Mr Bibb at 408-4228.