Units Make Life More Comfortable

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday December 9, 2003

DIALYSIS patients now have access to convenient and affordable accommodation while undergoing dialysis, training or diagnostic services thanks to a community group called HANKA.

HANKA, the members of the Hunter and Northern Kidney Association, raised $330,000 of the funds required to construct and furnish purpose-built accommodation for patients visiting the Wansey Dialysis Centre at Charlestown.

It's the first accommodation of its kind in NSW and was recently presented as a gift to Hunter Health by HANKA at a special hand-over ceremony with HANKA president Gary Chandler and Hunter Health chief executive officer Professor Katherine McGrath officially opening the facility.

Aptly named HANKA House, the accommodation will provide a more convenient and affordable option for patients coming from distant and isolated areas to receive dialysis training at the centre.

According to the director of nephrology services at John Hunter Hospital, Associate Professor Alastair Gillies, about 50per cent of dialysis training participants at the Wansey Centre come from regional areas.

The Wansey Centre is a unit of John Hunter Hospital's Nephrology Department, providing renal support and dialysis training to patients in the Hunter and isolated areas of the Northern Nephrology Network.

``Patients will no longer have to worry about the added burden of having to source accommodation during their dialysis training which can become very expensive," Associate Professor Gillies said.

``The provision of on-site accommodation at the Wansey Centre will provide enormous clinical and social benefits to our patients from distant areas making their important training period that much easier.

``We're very grateful to HANKA and the community groups who have supported them in raising funds for this wonderful project."

Associate Professor Gillies said 80 people accessed dialysis training at the Wansey Centre each year.

``The accommodation can also be used by those who are attending pre-dialysis training seminars or need to access diagnostic services," he said.

The accommodation consists of four one-bedroom units all with ensuites, a shared lounge, kitchen and laundry facilities. It has been set up as a ``home away from home" for dialysis patients and their families.

Associate Professor Gillies said dialysis training prepared patients with kidney failure to undertake dialysis in their own home and it took from two to 10 weeks, depending on the type of dialysis chosen.

``Dialysis can be very time consuming," he said.

``Teaching patients to do this process themselves gives them the flexibility to fit the treatment around their lifestyle.

``The accommodation will also be available for respite and holiday home patients dialysing at the Wansey Centre as well as renal patients undergoing tests at John Hunter Hospital."

Associate Professor Gillies said millions of people were surprised to be told they have kidney failure.

``This is because it can happen without obvious symptoms. Often it's picked up through high blood pressure or high protein in the urine," he said.

``Diabetes is now the number one cause of kidney failure in Australia and the rate of new people starting dialysis is increasing steadily, particularly in the young elderly."

For further information visit the Australian Kidney Foundation website at www.kidney.org.au.

Hunter Health recently received a wonderful gift that will make life so much easier for dialysis patients.

Article supplied by Hunter Health.

© 2003 Newcastle Herald

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