A political decision to build a kidney transplant unit at Townsville instead of Cairns has riled medical experts in the Far North.

The state government held bids from both Cairns and Townsville hospitals for the new renal transplant unit, but opted for the more southern hospital, despite evidence suggesting more patients would benefit if it was in Cairns.

Because a large percentage of the unit is likely to be filled with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, the proximity of Cairns to the state’s most vulnerable communities would make it more accessible.

“The decision to place Queensland’s second renal transplant unit in Townsville is a slap in the face for the Indigenous population of FNQ as well as to the Cairns Health Service,” Cairns Hospital’s clinical director Dr Peter Boyd told the Cairns Post.

“The government has said that they left the final decision about placement of the unit with Queensland Health.

“It is an objective reality that the burden of end stage kidney disease in North Queensland is in FNQ and in particular the Cape and Torres regions.

“Here was an opportunity to show real leadership.”

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch slammed the decision.

“This decision was a political decision and certainly not based on health evidence and certainly not based on need,” he said.

“State Cook MP Cynthia Lui’s comments on this issue were staggering and just goes to show she is utterly unfit to represent her constituents.”

Mr Entsch said a leaked report showed that the Far North region had more than double the amount of patients for the new unit.

This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 29 June 2021.