The North West Hospital and Health Service (HHS) Renal Peer Support Group were treated to an extra special Christmas gift this year – A delicious roast lunch supplied by the Mount Isa Mines.

The meal, made with ingredients generously supplied by Glencore and prepared by the talented chefs at North West HHS, brought festive cheer to staff, patients, and visitors alike.

Established in March 2024 by the renal allied health team, our renal peer support group has aimed to improve the psycho-social wellbeing for patients undergoing haemodialysis.

Haemodialysis treatment requires patients attend the renal unit up to 5 hours, three times per week, placing a significant burden on patients and their family.

The group aims to foster a strong sense of community among patients, helping them cope with the challenges of long-term treatment far from home.

The recent partnership with Glencore has allowed North West HHS to host the first renal patient Christmas party and help fund future events and projects to continue supporting patients.

Health Service Chief Executive, Sean Birgan, was delighted by the success of this first event under the partnership with Glencore.

“We are thrilled to see such strong community support, and this collaboration with Mount Isa Mines has been a shining example of what we can achieve together,” said Mr Birgan.

“Events like this provide an invaluable opportunity for patients to connect and support one another while also allowing us to engage with them on a deeper level.

“By giving patients a platform to share their voices and be actively involved in their treatment plans, we can work together to shape a more responsive and effective service for the entire community.

“We have already started to plan our next activities for the Renal Peer Support Group, and we look forward to building on this partnership with Glencore in the future to continue supporting our community.”

Jonathan Eden, Manager of Health, Safety, Environment and Community for Mount Isa Mines said the operation was pleased to help the Renal Unit and their patients to achieve long-term health outcomes.

“Our sponsorship of this project will see renal support services such as dietitian-approved food parcels, a peer support group to offer social support, nutrition education, and guidance on physical activity,” said Mr Eden.

“We hope this contribution makes a meaningful difference for those living in north-west Queensland who need renal support care.”

Local Kalkadoon Elder, Dawn Sam, is one of the patients from the Renal Peer Support Group’s inception and has attended many group sessions alongside her usual treatment plan.

“Thank you Glencore, it was great for the group to get together for a nice lunch, some of the patients aren’t from here so having these social events can really help them mentally. I hope next time we can organise for Glencore to join us for a trip to the lake or something,” said Ms Sam.

North West HHS extends heartfelt thanks to Mount Isa Mines and Glencore for their generosity and commitment to making this holiday season truly special for our renal patients and their friends and family.