Previously operating as satellite services of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, renal units in Ballarat, and Horsham will now be managed directly by Grampians Health, allowing for expanded services and improved patient outcomes.

This transition is driven by a commitment to providing high-quality, effective, and consistent care closer to home for patients living with kidney diseases and ailments. The new hub status enables Grampians Health to significantly enhance the medical and nursing capabilities in renal medicine, introduce surgical services for renal patients, and increase the number of specialist nursing roles to support those with advanced kidney ailments.

“This is a major step forward in how we care for people in our region,” said Dale Fraser, CEO of Grampians Health.

“Becoming an independent renal hub means we can deliver more responsive, locally managed care that reflects the needs of our patients and supports our dedicated staff. It’s about putting people first and making sure they receive the best possible care, close to home.

“We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for their longstanding support and collaboration, which has been instrumental in helping us deliver vital renal care to our communities.”

Renal medicine is a key area of focus in Grampians Health’s Clinical Services Plan, which was launched in 2021 to guide our service delivery to provide care closer to home and address gaps in care provision. The renal hub model directly supports this goal by building local capacity to meet rising demand for specialist services.

As part of its role as a renal hub, Grampians Health will be responsible for home dialysis services for patients across the region. To further enhance care coordination, a dedicated regional coordinator is being introduced to streamline treatment pathways and support patients living with chronic kidney disease in regional communities.

“Becoming an independent hub service means Grampians Health can now be responsible for managing all the components of our renal services —staffing, equipment, and clinical decisions—and focus on delivering high quality renal and dialysis care across the Grampians region,” said Dr David Langsford, General Manager – Medical and Clinical Programs at Grampians Health.

“Being an independent hub allows for more agile responses to patient needs, better integration with other local health services, and a stronger focus on continuity of care across Stawell, Edenhope, Horsham and Ballarat.”

As part of this transition, Grampians Health has also become the first in Victoria to install the latest Fresenius 6008 haemodialysis machines. These advanced machines streamline treatment setup, offer enhanced monitoring features, and improve comfort for patients by eliminating the need for saline through a direct connection to the hospital’s water treatment system. The technology also supports nursing staff by simplifying operation and enabling more responsive care.

Grampians Health Horsham’s Dialysis Associate Nurse Unit Manager Cathy Tischler said her team was very pleased to have the new upgraded machines.

“We are working with the very latest in technology at all seven stations,” Ms Tischler said.

“We are currently treating 14 patients three times a week from Monday to Saturday in Horsham and soon we will be increasing that to 16 patients, so the new machines are a welcome change.”