The good news was announced on Friday after Hunter New England Health reached an agreement with the Cape Hawke Community Hospital and Health Association and Pulse Health to establish a public dialysis unit at Forster Private Hospital. 

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HNE Health’s agreement with the operator of Forster Private Hospital, Pulse Health, and the owner of the facility, Cape Hawke Community Hospital and Health, means that six public chairs will operate from its new custom-built renal unit.

Chairman of the Cape Hawke Community Hospital and Health Association Roger Lynch said it was “a relief” to have a starting date confirmed for the unit.

“Hunter New England Health, Pulse Health and the Association have worked hard over recent months to reach an arrangement that will ensure local public patients get the services they need close to home,” said Mr Lynch.

The opening of a unit in Forster seemed unlikely in late 2014 when Hunter New England Health back flipped on a decision to close the Nita Reed Dialysis Centre in Taree, subsequently withdrawing funding from the proposed Forster centre.

Cape Hawke Community Hospital and Health Association had already allocated $560,000 for the construction of a purpose built unit by this time.

However, continued negotiations since February 2015 have led to an agreement between the various organisations.

Mr Lynch said the centre was “unique” and wouldn’t operate as a traditional public-private partnership, with HNE Health staff working with public patients and liaising with Manning Hospital from the Forster unit.

“It’s wonderful that we have been able to work together to benefit public patients in Forster who require dialysis,” said chief executive at Hunter New England Health, Mr Michael DiRienzo.

Mr DiRienzo said there are six Forster-based patients currently receiving dialysis treatment at Manning Hospital who are suitable for transfer to the Forster unit.

Member for Myall Lakes, Mr Stephen Bromhead MP, said having the unit in Forster would greatly benefit patients who previously had to travel for dialysis services.

“I appreciate how difficult and exhausting it is for patients to spend many hours a week on renal dialysis and I hope that by providing this treatment closer to home, this process will be just that little bit easier,” Mr Bromhead said. 

The space at Forster Private Hospital is currently being fitted out ahead of the delivery of a reverse osmosis machine from Germany, which is expected to arrive in mid-November.

Mr DiRienzo said the service would begin when the machine is commissioned in December.