New state-of-the-art machine for Rotorua's dialysis unit

Doctors medical stethoscope, health, Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, October 26, 2006. Credit:NZPA/Ross Setford HBT 12Jul12 - WTA 12Jul12 -RDP 12Jul12 -BOP 12Jul12 - HBT 23Oct12 - WTA 23Oct12 -

Rotorua's dialysis unit has received a second state-of-the-art haemodialysis machine thanks to fundraising from Te Whakapono Health Trust.

Trust chairwoman Philippa Wills said trust members had worked hard since donating a first haemodialysis chair, and it was now able to donate the second chair to Maharo, the Rotorua Satellite Dialysis Unit.

Ms Wills said it was made possible by a collaboration with Rotary Sunrise at the Lakeside 2014 Concert, continuing with selling cookbooks called Volcanic Kitchen, and culminating in a generous donation from Rotorua Trust.

Lakes District Health Board chief executive Ron Dunham said the health board had been the lucky recipient of tremendous fundraising by Te Whakapono Health Trust over the years, and was very grateful for the support.

The Fresenius 5008S haemodialysis machine cost $33,450.

It offers improved benefits for older, more frail and increasingly unwell patients, with a gentler and more stable treatment.

There are also additional benefits for patients considered obese with better clearances able to be achieved in the same time frames as current treatments, and greater clearances of some toxins in patients with on-going complications from long term renal replacement therapy.

The additional BTM (Blood Temperature Module) in each machine allows for routine on-going monitoring and management of vascular access and would reduce trips to Waikato Hospital.

Te Whakapono Trust was originally set up to fundraise the $780,000 to establish the satellite dialysis unit, which opened in June 2006.

Since then it has fundraised for other projects including a mobile ear unit, the refurbishing of the Paimarie hospital accommodation and the Rotorua Hospital Chemotherapy Day Unit.

Smaller projects have included fundraising for the Alzheimer's Society and Rotovegas Youth Health.

The trust is now working on providing a recliner for family members to support patients in the intensive care unit and the medical unit at Rotorua Hospital.