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The Kidney Society has a total of 28 dialysis chairs available and serves up to 55 people across its three South Auckland community dialysis houses.The first community dialysis house opened in Papatoetoe in 2004, and was the first renal facility in the country to operate without medical staff present.The community dialysis houses are available for clients to use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Kidney Society, together with staff from Middlemore Hospital, and current clients and staff, today celebrated 21 years of supporting Kiwis living with chronic kidney disease through its innovative community dialysis houses in South Auckland. The heart-warming ceremony took place at its Calvert and Wallace Houses on Hain Avenue in Māngere East. Society, in partnership with Middlemore Hospital renal services, operates three successful community dialysis houses across South Auckland, 24 hours a day, seven days a These houses are often described by clients as a ‘home away from home’ fundamentally changing their dialysis experience. Clients are empowered to take control of their haemodialysis treatment, enabling them to drop in to a community dialysis house and self-dialyse at their own convenience instead of having to visit a local hospital or “It’s such a humbling milestone to celebrate 21 years of supporting Kiwis living with chronic kidney disease through our community dialysis houses,” says Kath Eastwood, Chief Executive of The Kidney “We’re celebrating the thousands of lives that have been positively impacted and empowered to live well longer. The most consistent piece of feedback from our clients is that our community dialysis houses mean they can maintain employment, education, and social and cultural commitments, enhancing their quality of life, which is a powerful testament - that is the biggest “Many of our clients have been using our community dialysis houses for several years, allowing us to foster a supportive, long-term community of people. These are homes where everyone in need of chronic disease support is welcome to visit.” The first community dialysis house opened in Papatoetoe in 2004, becoming the first renal facility in the country to operate without medical staff “21 years on that dialysis house, Ripley House, continues to serve up to 22 New Zealanders every week,” says Mrs Eastwood. Chronic kidney disease is a serious, often irreversible condition, and without vital life-saving dialysis, kidney failure is fatal. This model is a vital, cost-effective solution to a growing health crisis as the demand for kidney dialysis continues to grow across the Counties Manukau and Auckland region. Community home dialysis requires approximately half the investment of hospital dialysis. The Kidney Society’s three community dialysis houses have collectively saved the healthcare system an estimated $130 million over the past 20 With 21 years of experience, The Kidney Society is acutely aware of the need for additional community dialysis facilities to support local communities, particularly as the demand for kidney dialysis continues to increase due to the higher incidence of Type 2 The Kidney Society is actively working with Health New Zealand on a proposal for the establishment of an additional community dialysis facility in the Counties Manukau region. "We are strong advocates for community dialysis, and believe it could be a meaningful, empowering approach for other regions across New About The Kidney Society: Society has spent 50 years providing wraparound support to individuals and families living with chronic kidney disease across the North Island, including Auckland, Northland, Bay of Plenty, the Lakes region, and Hawke's Bay. advocacy, resources, and holistic care, The Kidney Society empowers individuals and their whanau to manage their condition and live the best lives they can. Their work focuses on addressing the unique challenges faced by communities across Aotearoa, ensuring equitable access to vital support services. They collaborate closely with hospital renal teams while operating as an independent organisation, ensuring that people living with kidney disease remain at the heart of everything they © Scoop Media
