Nocturnal Dialysis is a Cairns first

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Nocturnal Dialysis is a Cairns first
A 49-year-old Cairns renal dialysis patient has been the first Cairns patient to trial Nocturnal Dialysis th an at-home process which allows dialysis treatment throughout the night while a patient sleeps.

(Media-Newswire.com) - A 49-year-old Cairns renal dialysis patient has been the first Cairns patient to trial Nocturnal Dialysis – an at-home process which allows dialysis treatment throughout the night while a patient sleeps.

Minister for Health Geoff Wilson said he was delighted that the innovative treatment was now available for Far North Queensland locals.

“This new treatment is another way the Bligh Government is working to ensure Cairns locals have better access to new and innovative health services, closer to home,” he said.

“With the successful implementation of nocturnal dialysis in the Cairns region, suitable Cairns renal patients can have more renal therapy options and empowerment in their health and wellbeing.”

Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said Cairns resident Deb Basham has been the first one to try the new treatment which provides many added benefits.

“Nocturnal dialysis is a longer treatment – which means it is undertaken less often and provides better results – eight hours second nightly compared with 3.5 hour daily sessions,” she said.

“The benefits of nocturnal dialysis for patients include, greater clearances of toxins out of the body, a need for less medications and the ability to eat a greater variety of foods.

“The patient connects to the dialysis machine when they are going to sleep, and comes off the machine when they awake in the morning giving them more freedom to work and participate in normal family activities.”

A world full of possibilities has opened up for Ms Basham who says her days are now freer.

“I now have so many more choices and I feel like I am getting my life back – I can go out to lunches, I can study, I can go out shopping.”

After being diagnosed with the blood disease hemolytic uremic syndrome ( HUS ), Deb had a kidney transplant in 2006 thanks to the support of her brother being a live related kidney donor. HUS is a condition that results in the destruction of clotting cells and red blood cells and causes the kidneys to shut down.

“The transplant lasted for 2.5 years,” Deb said.

“Then I needed dialysis. I’ve been doing it for three years – five days a week for 3.5 hours at a time.

“For me this treatment offers me so many more choices in how I live my life. There is a course I would like to do – and a bit more study. I have a choice now as to how I spend time – I can go out for lunches, shop whenever the mood takes me – I could even spend more time at work!”

ENDS

For interviews or photos of Ms Basham please contact: 322 52475

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