The incidence of Kidney Disease in the Kimberley is one of the highest in Australia. Chronic Kidney disease (CKD) and End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) incidence within the Aboriginal population of the Kimberley greatly exceeds the national burden of disease.
Dialysis prevalence for this region has more than tripled in the last decade and is increasing at a much faster rate than in the rest of Western Australia (WA).
Broome Renal health Centre
Kimberley Renal Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Ltd established to manage regional renal support and dialysis services in Broome, Derby, Kununurra and Fitzroy Crossing.
- Fitzroy Crossing Renal Health Centre opened in July 2012 and currently has 4 chairs
- Broome Renal Health Centre (previously known as Kimberley Satellite Dialysis Centre KSDC) has been in operation since 21st October 2002 and currently has 10 chairs
- Kununurra Renal Health Centre opened in May 2013 and currently has 6 chairs
- Derby Renal Health Centre opened in May 2013 and currently has 6 chairs
Each Renal Health Centre operates Monday to Saturday with varying opening hours providing dialysis services to clients across the Kimberley. Care is provided largely by Nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW) and support staff includes Aboriginal Care Coordinators, Patient Care Assistants, Receptionists and Administrative Support Staff and Cleaners.
Derby Renal health Centre
KRS Mobile Dialysis Unit (MDU)
The KRS Mobile Dialysis Unit (MDU) has been operational since June 2014. The vast majority of dialysis patients in the Kimberley are Aboriginal and the importance of their links to culture; country and language are well documented as are the negative effects of disconnection from them. Given the size of the region and the dispersion of the population many patients must move from their home communities to large towns many hundreds of kilometres away for treatment (or to Perth in some cases) and once started on dialysis, find it extremely difficult to make return visits to family and friends in their own communities and are unable to maintain these vital connections.
In a strategy to allow Kimberley haemodialysis patients to have extended visits home to be with family and maintain ties with their communities, KAMS/KRS has been funded to acquire a purpose built Mobile Dialysis Unit (MDU) truck to visit communities regularly in order to provide a Mobile Respite Dialysis.
Images: The MDU in operation.
Kimberley Renal Support Services (KRSS)
The Kimberley Renal Support Services (KRSS) was set up to deliver a support service to patients who are in the early stages of kidney disease prior needing a renal replacement therapy such as dialysis.
A Team of health care professionals focusses on the prevention of renal disease and the implementation of strategies to slow down the progression of renal disease.
The KRSS team consists of the following health care professionals:
- Aboriginal Care Coordinators
- Chronic Kidney Disease Educators
- Pre Dialysis Coordinators
- Renal GP’s
Contacting KRS
Kimberley Renal Services
Phone: (08) 9194 3266
27 Napier Terrace, PO BOX 1377, BROOME WA 6725
Contacting KRS Health Centres
Broome Renal Health Centre
Phone: (08) 9191 8600
Derby Renal health Centre
Phone (08) 9193 3500
Fitzroy Crossing Dialysis
Phone (08) 9166 1401
Kununurra Renal Health Centre
Phone: (08) 9166 4400