After a long community fight, one chair will be operational by July - but it won’t be the chair purchased by the Southern Highlands community 10 years ago. 

In 2008, the Southern Highlands Renal Appeal group purchased a dialysis chair for the hospital. 

An earlier report by the Southern Highlands News found the chair had only been used once in the past five years.

Mr Bardsley said this chair was no longer suitable for patient use. 

“A certified technician assessed the 10-year-old chair equipment and advised that unfortunately the equipment is not in a condition to use,” he said. 

While there is promise that one chair will be up-and-running for patients in July, details on operation and staffing were still unclear. Mr Bardsely said “days of operation and numbers of patients are yet to be determined.”

In a draft report obtained by the Southern Highland News titled Renal Services Bowral Satellite Unit Model of Care – Re-establishment of the Bowral Haemodialysis Chair, it is proposed that a “phased implementation plan” be adopted to ensure the Bowral and District haemodialysis chair is safely operational by July 1, 2018.

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Under the first stage, only one patient will be dialysed, with the report stating the chair will be operational in the mornings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “Phase 1 will dialyse one patient,” it read.

Two patients will be dialysed under stage two, with nursing staff to be recruited to offer patients a Monday to Saturday service. “This will dialyse two patients,” the report states. 

Stage three will also see room for four patients to be dialysed, with more staff to be recruited to allow for a morning and afternoon service from Monday to Saturday. 

“Full review of the model of care and governance will be required to continue and a review should be conducted prior to the establishment of a six chair Satellite at Bowral and District Hospital,” the report states. 

The draft report does not include a timeline for the roll-out of phases. 

In a statement addressing questions from the Southern Highland News, Mr Bardsely said the hospital was “continuing to plan for the expanded renal services”, however no timeline was disclosed. 

The new chair and equipment will be located in the hospital’s short stay unit at this stage. However, it is not understood if that will change when the Clinical Services Building is opened. 

While members of the Southern Highlands Renal Appeal said the use of one chair by July was a “positive step”, they were seeking answers about how the patient would be selected, and how long it would take for all six chairs to be operational.