In an historic moment for Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, the doors to the new renal dialysis unit have opened and for the first time in the hospital’s history, patients have been able to receive dialysis.

One of the first patients was Wes, who travels from Sackville North, in the Hawkesbury region and he is delighted the hospital offers the treatment.

For the past 2.5 years, Wes has been making the long journey to Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) three times a week.

“This will save me $320 in tolls a month and all the money in petrol,” Wes said.

The dialysis unit is a 10-chair satellite dialysis unit of RNSH unit will be opened Monday, Wednesday and Friday to start with, but aims to be five days a week next year.

The unit’s services include medical and nursing management appropriate for a satellite dialysis unit, including a vascular access and renal clinical nurse consultant vascular access monitoring; dietician, social work, pharmacist, podiatry; renal supportive care clinic; and general nephrology clinic.

The unit is located in the new building 61, which sits next to the main clinical services building. It was built as part of the NSW Government’s $365 million redevelopment of the hospital.