Helping make travel possible for haemodialysis patients
Date published: 09 May 2024
Author: Mellissa Saba
The Away From Home Haemodialysis (AFHH) program provides eligible NSW residents requiring haemodialysis treatment away from their usual dialysis unit with up to three fully funded sessions at participating private dialysis units across Australia each year.
This important program administered by EnableNSW on behalf of the Ministry of Health (MoH) allows patients to enjoy the flexibility of travelling within NSW or interstate while still receiving their life-saving treatment.
A recent survey of both current clinical staff and patients who accessed the program in the last two years, had nothing but praise for the program.
Here’s what patients said when asked about their experience of the AFHH program:
- 'It was good to be able to go to see my children. Without this program it would not be possible.’
- ‘To have dialysis somewhere different is very uplifting. It makes you feel just like everyone else, able to have a holiday. It's absolutely priceless to have a holiday! It makes me smile for months. I'm so very grateful!’
- ‘I found the program beneficial as it gave me a chance to travel and visit my son interstate while still being able to fit in my dialysis sessions.’
Here’s what clinicians said when asked how their patients feel about the AFHH program:
- 'The patient was able to spend Christmas with their family and didn’t have to travel back as soon as able to.’
- 'Another patient went interstate to see her son that she hadn't seen for 3 years. She said it was the greatest gift she could have been given.’
- ‘The patients who have used EnableNSW’s AFHH program have expressed how happy they were with the service as they would not be able to have any holidays or any resemblance of a normal life without this service.’
- ‘Renal patients often feel trapped by dialysis, unable to participate in activities that are normal and fun for most other people. The opportunity to travel as you would in normal life has a significant positive impact on dialysis patients with a marked improvement in mental health and sense of wellbeing following a holiday.’
Jackie Hiller, Manager of EnableNSW was extremely pleased with the survey results.
‘While these results are excellent and reiterate what we already know about this program, we must now ensure others in the dialysis community can learn about the benefits of travelling, even if they are receiving regular dialysis. Helping to connect families and giving people opportunities to pursue work and education in other parts of NSW or Australia, is really the best part of my job’.
Learn more about the AFHH program
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