Dialysis times and rhythms restored. Three months after the start of the crisis in the territory, the association for the prevention and treatment of renal failure (ATIR) has resumed its activities, despite the loss of half of its medical staff. Although the roads are now more passable, one concern persists: the lack of staff.
This is one of the topics raised from the first days of the riots in the territory: the care of patients, particularly those on dialysis. Roads blocked, roads impassable… The three dialysis centers in Greater Noumea had to close their doors for a time.
The Dumbéa-sur-mer dialysis center was looted. About twenty dialysis machines out of thirty-six were destroyed. They have since been repaired.
The activity was able to resume over time.We were able to return to normal dialysis times and rhythms. We can have our nurses work twelve hours a day again, so that means things are better. We can move around almost everywhere in the country freely. This allows us to supply all the units and patients at home.”, explains Nicolas Darsaut, director of the association for the prevention and treatment of renal failure (ATIR).
Its members take care of 420 dialysis patients in twelve units, spread across the territory. And if the activity has resumed almost normally, difficulties persist.Particularly at certain points like the Thio unit, which cannot be reached. We would need to resupply this unit with dialysis equipment and these are large volumes, but the trucks do not pass”, continues Nicolas Darsaut. A permanent presence is provided on site, but no patients can be received in this unit.
Another difficulty: the loss of staff. They went from six doctors before the crisis to three.We have lost half of our medical staff, so there are things we can no longer do or that we do differently. We used to send doctors to carry out consultations throughout the territory and the islands, to ensure the follow-up of non-dialysis patients, who have kidney diseases. But we no longer travel, we do not have the means. This represents hundreds of people. But we no longer have the medical time to do ite”, reveals the director of ATIR.
“Focus points are being launched, in conjunction with the CHT nephrologists, to find solutions so that these patients can continue to be monitored, as they were before. The members of the association are also in contact with the doctors of the Social Medical Centers, so that they can serve as relays on the ground.What we fear now is the lack of nursing staff. For the moment, we have nursing staff that allows us to function normally in caring for patients, but tomorrow and in the coming weeks, the coming months, we have no visibility on this capacity.”, regrets the president of ATIR.
A fear shared within the Gaston-Bourret territorial hospital center, which has already lost a quarter of its staff.
