Renal dialysis unit opens

Patient Trevor Roberts, left, with mother Cathy Roberts, at the Renal Dialysis Unit at the Gladstone Base Hospital.

Brett Mc Waters GLA

THE Gladstone Hospital's renal dialysis unit was officially opened today.

Patient Trevor Roberts, who launched the 'HELP Get Dialysis In Gladstone' Facebook page, said it was a relief to be sitting in the dialysis chair in Gladstone at long last.

What was once a 1 hour and 45 minute trip to get to Rockhampton for treatment now takes Mr Roberts three minutes.

However Mr Roberts said more was needed.

"This is only a start we don't want it to finish here," he said.

He said he hoped the unit would grow to take on more patients.

Central Queensland Health Service District chief executive officer Maree Geraghty said progress in renal dialysis for Gladstone patients would not end here and they would continue to improve the service.

"It is the first step in the right direction," Mrs Geraghty said.

The unit was made possible after a $2 million from Queenland Gas Corporation.

QGC project manager Dave Craft said it was part of QGC's $150 million investment into the Gladstone community.