Health & Wellbeing
A new dialysis unit at Southland Hospital is enabling more Southlanders to receive care closer to home, without the regular trips to Dunedin that defined life before it opened.
Invercargill man Leo Lou, 46, has been on home dialysis for two years, treating Polycystic Kidney Disease. Before the unit — Te Waka Whakaora Tākihi — opened in February, any equipment trouble or urgent need meant a drive to Dunedin. Now he can get what he needs locally.
"Having the dialysis unit available in Southland has made a huge difference to my life," Lou said.
"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."
Lou completes home dialysis three times a week, for five to six hours at a time. He had spent three months in Dunedin completing his dialysis training before the unit opened, and found that time away from home hard. Now he can pick up supplies, ask questions about his home treatments, and receive after-hours treatment if his machine is having problems.
"I have more options now – previously if I had any trouble, I might have had to travel to Dunedin. That's a big change."
Lou and other dialysis patients have also built a close connection with the unit's staff, he said.
"Dialysis is not just the machine. It's the doctor, the nurse, it's about the people and trust."
His mother, Jie Zhao, has seen the difference first-hand too. Zhao had a kidney transplant 14 years ago and experienced complications while visiting from Shanghai in June. After presenting to Southland Hospital's emergency department, she was transferred to Dunedin Hospital, where doctors found the kidney had failed. She had surgery, then completed four dialysis sessions in Dunedin before returning to Invercargill for 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," Lou said.
"I would have needed to travel to Dunedin regularly to visit and it would have been hard. 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 families."
The new unit has five haemodialysis spaces, up from two in the old unit, plus a treatment space for eligible inpatients and a dedicated area for peritoneal dialysis training and follow-up care.
Health New Zealand Southern Group Director of Operations Craig Ashton says the unit is already making a significant difference for Southland patients and families.
"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."