The Highlands community is set to receive a full satellite dialysis unit at Bowral and District Hospital. 

On November 2, it was announced by Wollondilly MP Jai Rowell that a renal service would be implemented at the hospital. 

On November 3, South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) CEO Amanda Larkin confirmed more details about the service at the district’s annual public meeting. 

“For some people it will absolutely be a satellite service with service by our nursing staff and we will have medical support,” she said.

“There will be some people who are not well enough that won’t be able to have satellite services who will need to still travel.”

Ms Larkin said SWSLHD would look at ways to implement the service “over the next couple of months.”

“What we plan is to have a working group to look at a number of factors, we’ve got to look at the service model, we need to look at the capital issues, and we need to look at the staffing,” she said. 

For the past 15 years the community-run Southern Highlands Renal Appeal (SHRA) has been campaigning for a service at Bowral hospital. 

Through fundraising and donations the group raised $700,00 for the creation of a unit. After gaining support from Mr Rowell and Goulburn MP Pru Goward, the group had a meeting with NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard. 

As a result, the decision was made to create a service in the Southern Highlands. 

Ms Larkin said it was important that SWSLHD worked with the SHRA to achieve the best outcome. 

“[The SHRA] had a long and committed part in the advocacy of the service so I’d like to work with [them] in terms of the details.” 

SHRA member Geoff Byrne said he was very pleased to hear Bowral would receive a full satellite unit. “That’s exactly what we wanted and to have the commitment is just fantastic,” he said. “We’ve been waiting a very long time for this.”