Invercargill man Leo Lou says a new and improved dialysis unit at Southland Hospital is making a “huge difference” to his quality of life.
The new, larger unit – Te Waka Whakaora Tākihi – opened in February and is enabling more Southlanders to receive care closer to home.
The unit includes five haemodialysis spaces, compared with two in the old unit, as well as a treatment space for eligible inpatients and a dedicated area for peritoneal dialysis training and follow-up care.
Leo has been completing home dialysis treatment for the past two years to treat Polycystic Kidney Disease. He says before the new unit opened, he would often need to travel to Dunedin if he was experiencing problems with his medical equipment or required urgent treatment.
“Having the dialysis unit available in Southland has made a huge difference to my life,” Leo says.
“It means I can receive treatment closer to home, avoid the need to relocate temporarily, stay connected with my family and community, and continue with my work and daily responsibilities.
“Most importantly, it has given me greater stability and independence. For someone who needs ongoing dialysis several times a week, having access to treatment locally makes a tremendous difference, not only financially but also physically and emotionally.
“I am very grateful for the new Southland dialysis unit and the positive impact it has had on my life.”
Prior to the new facility opening, Leo had spent three months in Dunedin completing his dialysis training, and he found it difficult being away from home for that long.
“I have more options now – previously if I had any trouble, I might have had to travel to Dunedin. That’s a big change.”
The 46-year-old early childhood teacher completes home dialysis treatment three times a week, for five to six hours at a time.
He says the new unit has allowed him to easily pick up extra supplies, ask questions about his home-based treatments, and receive after-hours treatment if his machine is having problems.
More importantly, he says, he and other dialysis patients have developed a close connection with the unit and its staff. He was also invited to have a look through the new unit when it opened.
“Dialysis is not just the machine. It’s the doctor, the nurse, it’s about the people and trust.”
Leo’s mother, Jie Zhao, has also benefitted from the new facility.
Zhao had a kidney transplant 14 years ago and experienced complications when she was visiting from Shanghai in June.
After visiting the Southland Hospital emergency department, Zhao was transferred to Dunedin Hospital, where she was advised the kidney had failed.
She underwent surgery then completed four dialysis sessions in Dunedin, before returning to Invercargill where she completed a further eight sessions.
“If we didn’t have the new unit here in Invercargill, she would have had to stay in Dunedin for quite a long time,” Leo says.
“I would have needed to travel to Dunedin regularly to visit and it would have been hard.
“She’s very, very lucky.”
Leo and his mother are not alone. Before the new unit opened, some Southland patients had to travel to Dunedin Hospital three times a week for dialysis or training.
Treatments have increased significantly since the purpose-built unit opened on the former Southland Hospital Breast Screening Cottage site. The team delivered 60 treatments in February and 156 treatments in August, a 160 per cent increase in six months.
At the end of June, a second shift was introduced three days a week, increasing treatment capacity by 50 per cent and supporting more people to receive dialysis locally.
Health New Zealand Southern Group Director of Operations Craig Ashton says the unit is already making a significant difference for Southland patients and whānau.
“Southland’s dialysis unit is a great example of what can be achieved. In just six months, the team has increased local treatment capacity, reduced patient and whānau travel, and supported people during some very challenging moments in their care.
“I want to thank everyone involved – our dialysis team, clinical leaders, support staff, project team, contractors, iwi partners, and patient representatives – for helping bring this important service to life and for their continued commitment to the Southland community.”