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Care requirements

Posted By WantingAPD

"Care requirements"

About: Swan Hill District Hospital

(as a relative),

Firstly I want to say the care standards at Swan Hill Hospital are exceptional. My chronically ill spouse has had their life saved more than once by your skilled and professional emergency department team.

The reason I am writing is to express my frustration at the apparent complete inability of the hospital to manage my spouse's peritoneal dialysis. It seems ridiculous that in 2025 this phenomenal hospital is unable to purchase 1 or 2 APD machines and get your staff trained. It is a problem because whenever my spouse is in ED late afternoon or evening, the doctors may want to keep them in overnight for observation. But because of their dialysis they can't do it, they either have to decide if my spouse is sick enough to transfer to Bendigo or send us home hoping for the best.

Seriously in 2025 this is an appalling situation in my opinion. If my spouse is the only PD patient in this region, I would think well it's fair enough, but I know they are not. The HDU team from Bendigo come to this region regularly and have told us there is average about 20 PD patients they visit. I am begging this issue please be addressed, perhaps that can be your next fundraising venture. I know it would dramatically reduce the stress on people like myself and my spouse.

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Responses

Response from Chloe Keogh, Interim CEO, Executive Offices, Swan Hill District Health 2 months ago
Chloe Keogh
Interim CEO, Executive Offices,
Swan Hill District Health

Overall responsibility for the running of the health service, reports to the Board of Management. Interim for 7 months while they recruit permanently to the CEO role.

Submitted on 15/12/2025 at 1:24 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 5:25 PM

picture of Chloe Keogh

Dear WantingAPD,

Thank you for taking the time to write to us about the care that your chronically ill spouse has received or needed to receive here at SHDH. I would really appreciate knowing a little more about this situation and particularly the Peritoneal Dialysis requirement. You are right, we do not currently provide peritoneal dialysis.

I wonder if you could email me further details so that we can communicate more about this matter on ckeogh@shdh.org.au, or phone me on 50339250 so that we could talk about how your spouse receives their peritoneal dialysis, who supports them having this, and how transportable the equipment is.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

Chloe

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Response from Chloe Keogh, Interim CEO, Executive Offices, Swan Hill District Health last month
Chloe Keogh
Interim CEO, Executive Offices,
Swan Hill District Health

Overall responsibility for the running of the health service, reports to the Board of Management. Interim for 7 months while they recruit permanently to the CEO role.

Submitted on 9/01/2026 at 5:23 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia on 12/01/2026 at 9:59 AM

picture of Chloe Keogh

Dear WantingAPD,

Thank you for reaching out and phoning me, and then taking my follow up call today.

I have, on your advice been in touch with the Nurse Unit Manager of Bendigo Health High Dependency Unit. We had a very good discussion about the peritoneal dialysis patient needs when being admitted for a non renal or non peritoneal dialysis related treatment to hospital. Across Victoria most Peritoneal Dialysis patients get their hospital overnight care in a regional or metro hospital as they have the specialist nurses to provide the dialysis - which is consistent with what your spouse has experienced. There is good reason - it is a very special type of nursing care needed, with a particular machine to deliver the fluid, and certain checks - which you know about. Most patients provide their own peritoneal dialysis in their own home or are supported by family. When the patient or their family cannot support the provision of the peritoneal dialysis then specialised care is needed for our region that is provided in Bendigo Health.

We are going to keep working closely with Bendigo Health Peritoneal Dialysis team for the care of the peritoneal dialysis patients in our region, when they present to the SHDH ED, and when they need admission for further care. If there is a way to provide care and support closer to home - depending on the care the patient needs, rather than transferring to Bendigo or Melbourne for these patients the situation will be assessed and we will work with the Bendigo Health team to put in place the appropriate supports and education to be able to deliver this model.

Thank you for reaching out and having these conversations with me. I will continue to monitor this matter with the ED team, and Bendigo Health.

I do hope you and your spouse can find a cool place in these few days of heat.

Kind Regards

Chloe

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