What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a way to clean the blood and remove excess fluid if your kidneys are no longer able to filter excess water, waste and toxins.

There are two types of dialysis:

1. Haemodialysis – During haemodialysis your blood is cleaned by circulating it from a needle in your arm through a dialysis machine. Most people have haemodialysis in a dialysis centre three times a week although some opt to be trained to do it at home.

2. Peritoneal Dialysis – Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining in your abdomen (your tummy) to filter the blood. The cleaning process takes place inside your body and is done at home. Fluid is filled into your abdomen and leaves through a catheter, which is a thin soft tube that stays in place permanently. Waste from your blood will enter the fluid through the lining in your abdomen, called the peritoneal membrane and will be removed when the fluid is drained.

Where can dialysis be provided?

Haemodialysis

• Private Haemodialysis
  • Lindfield Dialysis Unit
  • Mater Dialysis Unit
  • Sydney Adventist Hospital

• Public Dialysis
  • Royal North Shore Hospital
  • Northern Beaches Hospital

Home-Based Treatments

• Home haemodialysis (involves training program at RNSH)
• Peritoneal dialysis (involves training program at RNSH)