Patients fear a cut to dialysis transport could cost lives and are lobbying the South Australian Government to intervene.

Key points: The Federal Government has cut free transport for Aboriginal dialysis patients in Adelaide

The Federal Government has cut free transport for Aboriginal dialysis patients in Adelaide It said SA Health needed to fund transport for its own patients

It said SA Health needed to fund transport for its own patients SA Health said it would only help some patients with transport, requiring them to a pass a disadvantage test

Until October 1, Aboriginal patients were transported to and from their dialysis treatments by a free shuttle bus.

But a stand-off between state and federal health authorities over who should fund the service has left the end-stage renal disease patients vulnerable and worried about their future.

Nari Sinclair receives dialysis three times a week at the Hampstead Gardens clinic in Adelaide's inner north, and received a letter advising her of the plan to stop the shuttle after she was discharged from hospital following the amputation of her right leg.

"I reckon most of us are all going to end up in emergency, getting treatment through emergency and getting dialysed at the hospitals, because it's the only way," Ms Sinclair said.

"The traditional people are lucky to be going now with transport, if that transport stops, they're not going to go.

"If we don't get transport, we don't get dialysis and we could die."

Now permanently in a wheelchair, she is unable to drive, catch public transport or take a normal taxi, and relies on the shuttle bus to transport her to dialysis.

Without the shuttle, and taking into account pensioner fare discounts for a taxi, she would face paying an extra $90 a week for transport, she said.

"It's $90 I haven't got because I've got bills, I've got food, I've got everything," she said.

"A lot of people haven't got family around them three times a week to be able to get transport."

She said the state's health department said it would provide her with some transport for a specified period, but the service would not be fully replaced for all patients.

Ms Sinclair and other dialysis patients plan to visit State Parliament today to petition the Government to intervene.

Ms Sinclair says up to 50 patients on dialysis used the free shuttle service. ( ABC News: Bridget Brennan )

'This will result in death'

Uniting Church Reverend Dean Whittaker said he was shocked when members of his congregation told him the shuttle for dialysis appointments would stop.

"I'm absolutely convinced this will result in death," Reverend Whittaker said.

"Most of the Aboriginal people getting dialysis are not from here and because of this they don't have lots of structures around them to support them getting to dialysis.

"The reality is that if they don't have dialysis, they will die."

Sonder said it was "deeply sorry" it was forced to stop transport for dialysis patients. ( Supplied: Nari Sinclair )

The Federal Government's Primary Health Network (PHN) said it had stepped in to provide transport through the bus service provider Sonder 14 months ago, after SA Health withdrew its shuttle service.

The funding came from its Closing the Gap program, which aims to increase life expectancy by improving access to primary care for Aboriginal people.

But the service — funded by the Federal Government — ceased on October 1.

The PHN said it was financially unsustainable in the long term.

The PHN said dialysis appointments were occurring through the state's health system, and SA Health needed to fund transport for its own patients.

Communications sighted by the ABC show Sonder alerted patients and the dialysis providers only weeks before the shuttle service ended, in the hope SA Health would return its shuttle service in full.

But SA Health has tightened the rules for transport and will now only provide support for patients who pass a disadvantage test outlined in their transport policy.

Both SA Health and the PHN declined requests for an interview.

'Inundated' with requests for help

Adelaide PHN chief executive Deb Lee provided a statement to the ABC, explaining the federally-funded health network had originally stepped in to provide transport after it was "inundated" by requests for help from the Aboriginal community 14 months ago when SA Health withdrew its free bus service.

"[Sonder] stepped into the breach initially and helped provide transport for a number of months, but this unfortunately is no longer sustainable due to the large numbers of patients requiring transport," Ms Lee said.

She said the withdrawal of transport for dialysis patients was a "direct result" of SA Health's decision to enforce a rule that patients must make their own way to the closest hospital for dialysis.

"Clearly the transportation of patients for acute treatment is a matter for SA Health," she said.

In a statement, Central Adelaide Local Health Network cancer and renal nursing co-director Kellianne Fraser acknowledged there would be some dialysis patients who would no longer receive free transport.

"Sonder (formerly the Northern Health Network) ceased funding transport for Aboriginal patients requiring ongoing dialysis on October 1," Ms Fraser said.

"The Central Adelaide Local Health Network was notified of this change at the end of August and quickly worked to review transport services across all dialysis units, using the SA Health transport policy.

"All patients, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, have been assessed and some have had changes to transport a result.

"We are working through this with the support of Aboriginal Health and Allied Health teams to minimise any disruption for our patients."