"Dialysis"

Dear octanssk45,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us.

It is wonderful to hear that you describe our dialysis service as a great place, particularly after attending regularly over the past two years. I will make sure your kind words are shared with the dialysis team.

I am sorry to hear that parking has added stress to your appointments, especially when you are attending for regular treatment. We understand that easy access to the hospital is extremely important for dialysis patients.

There are reserved dialysis parking spaces available for patients attending treatment, and we have recently opened up more public parking in the parking lot behind the Facilities building (opposite dialysis). Recent parking changes have been introduced to make more public parking available closer to the hospital for patients and visitors.

If you are having trouble finding a suitable park when attending dialysis, please continue to let the team know and we can help you find suitable parking.

Thank you again for your feedback. We appreciate you raising this with us, and we will continue to monitor parking access as part of improving the experience for patients, visitors and staff.

Kind regards,

Brooke Andrews

Acting Operational Director of Quality, Experience and Safety.

Dear octanssk45,

We understand that regular dialysis treatment can be physically and emotionally demanding, and that concerns about parking and transport can add unnecessary stress to an already challenging day. We want to help make your visits to BRHS as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Due to the limited number of parking spaces available and the high demand for dialysis services, BRHS operates within a strict one patient-to-one parking space ratio. Unfortunately, there are times when demand exceeds the number of available parking bays.

To support fair access for all patients, those who drive themselves are encouraged to use the allocated dialysis parking bays on McKean Street. Patients travelling with a family member, friend, or carer are encouraged to use the designated drop-off zone, with the driver then relocating to public parking nearby.

We recognise that these arrangements may not always be convenient, particularly for patients who are feeling unwell, experience mobility difficulties, or are attending treatment several times each week. While dedicated dialysis parking spaces cannot accommodate everyone, the following options may help ease the burden:

- Drop-off and Pick-up Zones: Short-term drop-off bays on McKean Street allow patients to be safely dropped off close to the unit, reducing the need to walk long distances. Drivers are then asked to move their vehicle to general public parking.

- Nearby Street Parking: Additional public parking is available on surrounding streets, including Day Street and Victoria Street, when dedicated spaces are full.

- Transport Assistance Programs: Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for transport support services, such as Non-Emergency Patient Transport or the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme, which may reduce the need for patients and families to manage parking arrangements themselves.

For the most up-to-date information on parking locations, accessible routes and hospital facilities, please refer to the BRHS Hospital Map.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to balance the needs of all dialysis patients. If parking or transport is becoming a difficulty for you or your family, please speak with the dialysis team. We are committed to helping find the most suitable options and supports available to make your treatment journey as manageable as possible.

Kind regards,

Paul Oakes

Dear octanssk45,

Thank you for your positive feedback regarding the Dialysis Unit. Our team are dedicated to providing high-quality care to all of our Dialysis patients and we appreciate your kind comment.

I am truly sorry that you had to walk such a distance to reach your Dialysis appointment. I understand that long distances can be difficult for many of our patients to manage, and I appreciate your frustrations.

As my colleagues have mentioned in their responses above, BRHS has recently invested in new parking spaces, which has allowed the community greater access to our services.

At the present time, we are unable to enforce car parking rules on the premises, therefore Dialysis patients are not always guaranteed a car park in the dedicated parking spaces BRHS provide specifically for Dialysis & Oncology patients. Please know that despite this challenge, it is our hope that you would be able to park close to the Dialysis Unit.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. Please contact me directly in the Dialysis Unit if you would like to discuss this matter further.

Kind regards,

Lisa Anderson