Melbourne resident Lynette Florance is among the many patients benefiting from the Big Red Kidney Bus during her week-long stay in Echuca. This innovative service is transforming the lives of dialysis patients by enabling them to travel without compromising their health needs.
“We have family in Cohuna and in Moama, so we will catch up with them and then do a bit of sightseeing around,” Mrs. Florance shared. “We have been to Echuca a few times. We like to wander around a bit, look at the port and go for a stroll.”
Requiring dialysis three afternoons a week, Mrs. Florance has embraced the newfound freedom the bus provides. “With the bus, this year we have been to Warrnambool in February and we are going to Mildura in June and Lakes Entrance in September,” she said. “Having the kidney bus has been excellent because we got stuck and couldn’t do anything, and it has opened up the things we can do.”
The Lifesaving Impact of the Big Red Kidney Bus
The diagnosis of kidney disease came as a shock to Mrs. Florance. “It was a big shock, because you don’t realize anything is wrong,” she explained. “And then the next thing, you realize you are nearly ready for dialysis and have to have dialysis. But it is keeping me alive and I get to see some of the country.”
Kidney Health Australia’s general manager of community, Maria O’Sullivan, elaborated on the bus’s vital role. “Our big red kidney bus is a mobile dialysis unit on wheels,” she said. “It travels up and down the state of Victoria, providing dialysis to people who are on haemodialysis in their own treating units. It gives them a chance to actually travel to somewhere else, to go on holidays or to visit friends.”
Addressing Travel Restrictions for Dialysis Patients
The service addresses significant restrictions faced by dialysis patients. “With haemodialysis, they need to have treatment three times a week in their unit for about five hours a day,” Ms. O’Sullivan explained. “So it really restricts their ability to travel anywhere very far for very long.”
The bus will remain in Echuca until March 28, after which it will move to Phillip Island from April 22 to May 19, followed by a stint in Mildura. Ms. O’Sullivan encourages local residents who need dialysis to visit the bus.
Raising Awareness of Kidney Disease
“There is a proportion of people in the Nichols electorate with kidney disease, and it is a widely undiagnosed disease,” Ms. O’Sullivan noted. “You can lose 90 percent of your kidney function before symptoms are apparent. That is why we are getting the message out, to be aware of the risk factors.”
“You can lose 90% of your kidney function before symptoms are apparent.”
She highlighted the key risk factors, including diabetes and high blood pressure, with First Nations people being at higher risk. Other factors include being overweight, being a current or past smoker or vaper, having had a stroke, heart attack, or heart failure, or having a family history of kidney disease.
Anyone who believes they are at risk of kidney disease is advised to speak to a GP about taking a kidney health check.
Features of the Kidney Bus
The bus is equipped with three comfortable dialysis chairs, each featuring individual entertainment systems and wheelchair access. It operates morning and afternoon sessions from Monday to Saturday, providing a critical service to those in need.
The Big Red Kidney Bus represents a significant advancement in the quality of life for dialysis patients, offering them the opportunity to explore new destinations while maintaining their essential health routines. As the bus continues its journey across Victoria, it not only provides a vital medical service but also spreads awareness about kidney health and the importance of early detection.
