Queenslanders will have more support and greater access to kidney services thanks to the statewide Advancing Kidney Care 2026 (AKC2026) Plan, launched recently.
Developed following a statewide review of kidney services, the plan aims to deliver equitable access to services for Queenslanders, regardless of where they live. It addresses kidney disease across the spectrum from prevention and early detection, management of chronic kidney disease, and the delivery of specialist kidney care. Queensland’s Hospital and Health Services will share in $10 million annually to support the implementation of the plan. In 2019-20 this new funding will support transplant coordination, home haemodialysis, vascular access coordination and kidney supportive care models.
Implementation of the plan will be overseen by the Advancing Kidney Care 2026 Collaborative, comprised of consumers, clinicians, service partners and administrators committed to improving kidney care services in Queensland. The Collaborative has hit the ground running; with an outcomes-focused alternative funding model for kidney care services and a statewide digitally integrated kidney care data solution already under development.
PICTURED ABOVE (L-R): Dr Keshwar Baboolal and Dr John Wakefield.
The Collaborative has also overseen the drafting of The framework for delivering quality care to people with kidney disease, which describes the care that patients should receive regardless of where they live in the state. It’s expected to be finalised in July 2019. Keshwar Baboolal, Clinical Lead of the AKC 2026 Project (pictured above) said collaboration was key. “In drafting the framework, it was vital to ensure collaboration and co-design with consumers, clinicians, primary care providers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners. This included over 80 clinicians and consumers on seven working groups, participating in 34 meetings totalling in over 530 hours of clinician and consumer time.” Please note the window for providing feedback on the framework has now closed.
For more information on AKC2026, visit the webpage or email AKC2026Collaborative@health.qld.gov.au.
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