A new bus to help transport Aboriginal dialysis patients is part of a project to identify ways dialysis patients can live well and COVID-safe and avoid unnecessary hospital visits.

Royal Darwin Hospital Renal Physician Associate Professor Jaqui Hughes said dialysis patients can experience severe frailty, fatigue, breathing difficulties, cognitive impairment, and psychosocial distress.

“The situation is far worse for Aboriginal renal patients who are often away from home, have language barriers, are unfamiliar with the health system, and do not have access to reliable transport,” Prof Hughes said.

As part of a joint Top End Renal Service and Menzies School of Health Research project, the Live Strong, COVID-Safe and Frailty Free After Starting Dialysis project, a bus has been leased and a new position created of a Patient Transport Officer, who will solely focus on transferring the project patients to and from Royal Darwin Hospital.

“This bus service and Transport Officer is to support patients to attend scheduled dialysis, consultancy, physiotherapy or education sessions. Through this pilot project, we hope to role model how a culturally safe and reliable transport system should look like,” Prof Hughes said.

The 10-seater vehicle has incorporated frail patient accessibility features such as hand rails, steps, separate cage at the back to stow walkers.

She said the new bus was an additional service to support the New Start Dialysis Transition Program, and will still work alongside Top End Patient Transport Services (TEPTS) easing some pressure, while ensuring frail patients could access a culturally safe, reliable bus service for this patient group.

Renal patient Tolbert Dharromanba said he really liked the bus.

“It’s very good. It is comfortable, and I like the rails and easy access stairs as I have weaker legs. I am also hoping that having a new start driver can help to reduce waiting time for the bus,” Mr Dharromanba said.

The Live Strong, COVID-Safe and Frailty Free After Starting Dialysis project works alongside the Top End Renal Services New Start Dialysis Transition Program (NSDTP) to identify ways patients can live well and COVID-safe.

“This project will work with renal staff and patients to optimise patient fitness and improve patients renal-health knowledge so that so patients can reach the best possible health care outcomes, and are well-equipped with our support to live strong and safe during COVID while receiving treatment  like dialysis,” Dr Hughes said.

The project will assess four key components which will be delivered by the Top End Renal Services New Start Dialysis Transition Program:

• an education program involving renal self-care
• demonstrating culture-appropriate COVID-safe renal practices
• frailty-support by promoting physiotherapy-related exercises
• Role-modelling reliable and culture-safe patient transport.

“Kidney Disease is one condition which lowers the body’s immune function.  We also know world-wide that COVID-infection in adults who have kidney disease has been devastating.  So our research project is important to helping Territorians live Strong and COVID-safe not only during this pandemic but able to be strong and live well while still receiving renal health care,” Professor Hughes said

Media contact: Russel Guse 0436 933 810

Images:

• Renal patient Tolbert Dharromanba and physiotherapist Richard Modderman with a new bus for dialysis patients aimed at helping them live safely during the COVID pandemic.
• Renal patient Tolbert Dharromanba tries out the new bus for dialysis patients aimed at helping them live safely during the COVID pandemic.