The Big Red Kidney Bus is celebrating 10 years of making memories for dialysis patients and carers.
Over the past decade, the bus has allowed patients undergoing strict dialysis schedules to receive lifesaving treatment, while enjoying a much-needed holiday in beautiful surrounds.
The idea began with a vision by a group of patients in Gippsland and was brought to life by Monash Health, Kidney Health Australia and the Victorian Department of Health, with the first bus pulling into the Parliament of Victoria in 2014.
“Over the past 10 years, more than 1,000 people have taken advantage of the Big Red Kidney Bus, having dialysis in over 50 different Victorian sites,” said Professor Peter Kerr, Nephrologist at Monash Health.
“The bus provides patients the freedom to spend important holiday time with family and friends while maintaining their treatment outside of hospital.”
Monash Health is proud to have been a part of the journey of this unique project, supporting the first bus fit-out for dialysis and providing the amazing nursing teams on board who make the mobile care possible.
To celebrate the 10 years of operation, the bus returned to the Parliament of Victoria this week and was joined by the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP, Minister for Health and the people who have made the life-saving initiative possible.
The Big Red Kidney Bus will be back on the road in Victoria soon, with the next stop at Lakes Entrance from 23 September to 2 November.
To find out more about the Big Red Kidney Bus, please visit: https://kidney.org.au/ways-we-help/big-red-kidney-bus
