The Australian Greens have expressed deep concern about the outcome for Western Australian dialysis patients from the tri-state meeting in Adelaide today on dialysis services.

Apparently the WA Government is not commenting until after the weekend, while the South Australian Government has announced that it will not be committing any further funds to address the need for dialysis services in central Australia.

"I'm very afraid that this meeting has failed to come to any agreement about funding for the current crisis in dialysis," said the Greens’ Health Spokesperson WA Senator Rachel Siewert.

"I'm calling on the WA Minister for Health Kim Hames to announce immediately what action the WA Government has committed to taking to address this crisis."

"The growing demand for renal services in Aboriginal communities has been well documented. Our health departments have known for some time that the rates are meeting the higher projections for end-stage kidney disease and yet they have failed to act.

"With 13 WA patients already on dialysis in Alice Springs and another five refused service, together with the alarmingly high rates of end-stage kidney disease in border communities, the WA Government should immediately announce its commitment to provide additional resources.

"WA should commit to assist with the immediate crisis in Alice Springs – and also dedicate funding for other facilities, such as a dialysis unit in Warburton within the next 18 months," Senator Siewert concluded.

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