Renal unit eases patient burden

Trevor Roberts needs dialysis in Rockhampton three times a week, so he is glad that work is underway on the new renal unit that will service patients in Gladstone.

Christopher Chan

Related links

• Renal unit great news for Trevor
• Dialysis treatment coming to town
• Cry for renal unit

TREVOR Roberts spends three hours three days a week travelling to and from Rockhampton to receive renal dialysis.

Which means, apart from the inconvenience, he spends a lot of money on fuel and finds it hard to hold down a job with such limited availability.

Mr Roberts said it also took a toll on family members with his mum always offering to take the day off work and drive him to Rockhampton to make sure he arrived safely.

"I don't think it is really safe to drive a car after dialysis, you get lethargic," Mr Roberts said.

With the announcement that the new renal dialysis facility is under construction at Gladstone Hospital, things are looking up for Mr Roberts and the rest of the Gladstone residents who also need it.

When The Observer spoke to Mr Roberts earlier in the year he had reservations about whether or not the Gladstone Hospital would ever have its own renal dialysis unit, but now that construction has started he is feeling more confident about it.

"When I was on dialysis (in Rockhampton on Thursday) there was a nurse from Gladstone up there getting trained," Mr Roberts said.

He believes the 'HELP Get Dialysis In Gladstone' Facebook page he had started (now with 931 members), and the overwhelming community support, had made a difference in getting the unit to happen.

"It got the word out a fair bit," Mr Roberts said.