Kidney Health Australia bus helps dialysis patients enjoy holidays

Dialysis can restrict patients from travel, but a special bus is helping them enjoy well-deserved holidays.

Claire Gibbons and the kidney bus. Picture: Alison Wynd

A bus offering dialysis is helping people suffering kidney failure enjoy travel.

Warrnambool’s Claire Gibbons was an avid traveller, but now she “wouldn’t dream” of going overseas.

The 84-year-old has been on dialysis for more than seven years.

Mrs Gibbons has three adult sons, two of whom live in Torquay, and has been using the Big Red Kidney Bus while visiting them.

The great-grandmother said the bus had made a “huge difference” in her life.

Her most recent trip has been the 13th holiday, which have taken place all around Victoria, during which she’s made the most of the bus.

Mrs Gibbons said adapting to life on dialysis was a major adjustment.

Claire Gibbons, picture with her family, and the kidney bus she follows around for her dialysis. Picture: Alison Wynd

She has four hours of treatment three days a week.

Kidney Health Australia’s free dialysis service on the bus allows those from near and far to receive lifesaving dialysis services while enjoying a much-needed holiday.

Dialysis treatment can take a heavy physical and mental toll on people, while also severely restricting their freedom to travel.

Dialysis replaces natural kidney function by cleaning the blood and getting rid of toxins.

Kidney Health Australia chief executive Chris Forbes said the bus was much loved by the kidney community as it gave them the freedom to move beyond their treating clinic and visit other parts of Australia – a freedom many take for granted.

The Big Red Kidney Bus will be stationed at the Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park until August 12.

Kidney Health Australia welcomes all locals, especially those on dialysis, to come see the way the service works and learn more about kidney disease.

“We hope that having the bright red bus in Torquay will bring much needed awareness to locals about kidney health and the fact that 1.8 million adult Australians who have kidney disease remain undiagnosed,” Mr Forbes said.

People living with kidney disease who are interested in booking onto the service are

encouraged to contact Kidney Health Australia on 1800 454 353 or visit kidney.org.au/bus for more information.

Originally published as Kidney Health Australia bus helps dialysis patients enjoy holidays