Kidney Health Australia

Media Alert
10.30am Wednesday 23 December 2015
Big Red Kidney Bus Breaks Down Barrier to Holiday for Patients
Royal Botanic Gardens (Visitor Centre)
Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra

Richard Yann, apart from managing a busy professional life and just becoming a new father, also has to find 3 days a week to be on life saving dialysis - a treatment required for kidney disease by some 11,500 Australians.

For most kidney patients and their families dialysis makes a holiday out of reach.

Richard and Lachlan

Today however, Richard with his wife Lisa and new baby son Lachlan will be taking a break at the Royal Botanic Gardens where he will be dialysing in the Big Red Kidney Bus, and creating an historic moment for the Royal Botanic Gardens, established in 1846 by Lieutenant Governor Charles Latrobe.

David Hussey - Richard's friend, Kidney Health Australia Ambassador and international cricketer, will be visiting to support Richard and to see how the Big Red Kidney Bus operates.

The joint project by Monash Health, Kidney Health Australia and Latrobe Bus Lines, is a first of its kind and allows the Big Red Kidney Bus to act as a travelling dialysis service that visits various holiday destinations around the State.

Patients can look-up where the bus is going, book a time and receive dialysis whilst on holiday in that area.

The service enables people on haemodialysis, their families and friends to have a holiday away from their home, which would otherwise be so difficult.

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Media Communications, Kidney Health Australia - Mobile: 0417 329 201 to arrange an interview with Richard Yann

Available for Interview:
Richard Yann, husband, father and dialysis patient
David Hussey, friend, Kidney Health Australia Ambassador and international cricketer
Anne Wilson, CEO, Kidney Health Australia
Chris Cole, Acting Director/CEO representing Tim Entwisle CEO Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

About the Big Red Kidney Bus
The Big Red Kidney Bus, a joint project by Kidney Health Australia, Monash Health and Latrobe Valley Bus Lines is a first of its kind providing a holiday dialysis service that visits various holiday destinations around the State. The service enables people on haemodialysis, their families and friends to have a holiday, away from their home and hospital dialysis unit, which would otherwise be so difficult.

The Big Red Kidney Bus

The bus is located for 6 weeks at popular Victorian holiday destinations in holiday parks

Patients arrange their own holiday accommodation and travel

Kidney Health Australia owns the bus, manages the bookings and employs the bus driver

Monash Health provides clinical and medical aspects of haemodialysis and confirms bookings. Admission criteria must be met and a What to bring on board checklist followed

There are three dialysis chairs for 12 people each week, staffed by a highly experienced dialysis nurse and renal technician.

For more information on the Big Red Kidney Bus, visit www.kidney.org.au