People receiving haemodialysis were able to stay for longer while visiting the Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
The Big Red Kidney Bus mobile dialysis unit was at Wonthaggi Hospital during January and February, and provided 38 dialysis sessions to 10 patients.
Haemodialysis is a medical procedure that cleans the blood of patients with kidneys that are no longer working properly, enabling patients to continue to enjoy life.
However haemodialysis is a commitment, requiring several treatments a week, limiting patients’ travel plans.
That’s why the Big Kidney Bus gave patients, such as Carmel Sampson of Rosebud, new opportunities to travel and enjoy the company of family for longer.
“I booked in for three sessions on the bus and it meant I got to stay with my daughter and her family for a week. It’s the longest that I’ve stayed with them since I’ve had dialysis,” she said.
“Otherwise it’s hard to visit them for so long when I’ve got dialysis three times a week.”
Other patients to board the bus came from as far as New South Wales and the Grampians region of western Victoria.
The Big Red Kidney Bus is operated by Monash Health and Kidney Health Australia, and will return to Wonthaggi Hospital in early 2025.
The bus provides dialysis sessions in addition to the dialysis service Bass Coast Health provides to regular, local patients at Wonthaggi Hospital.