However, they fear improvements will be delayed by lack of government funding.

The dialysis department at Warrnambool Base Hospital is running at capacity and The Standard understands there is an expanding waiting list.

Three patients and their families have spoken out about having to travel up to two hours, three times a week for vital treatment they need for the rest of their lives, or until a successful transplant.

Two Warrnambool men travel to Portland for four-hour sessions in a dialysis chair while a Naringal man has recently been accepted into Terang’s unit after months of travelling to Geelong and Colac.

They say kidney issues seemed to be overlooked in health infrastructure funding and called for a community campaign in the lead-up to the November state elections.

South West Healthcare’s chief executive John Krygger has confirmed discussions are under way with the Health Department and St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne. 

He said demand was increasing and the discussions were aimed at improvements “so local patients do not have to travel to other parts of the region to receive their haemodialysis treatment”.

“There are 48 sessions of haemodialysis provided each week, which until recent times has met demand.” 

Mr Krygger said dialysis services were part of a parent hospital arrangement with St Vincent’s under which South West Healthcare was a satellite provider.

Warrnambool disability pensioner Craig Gent and Warrnambool milk tanker driver Darren Ledner have been travelling to Portland for about a month after unsuccessful attempts to get into the Warrnambool department.

For Mr Gent it’s especially tedious because he is blind, a long-time diabetic and is recovering from a broken hip.

His wife and mother take turns to drive him, then wait while he has his four-hour sessions before the return trip.

“There’s definitely a need for more services in Warrnambool,” Mr Gent said. 

“Authorities all try to pass the buck. Kidney dialysis doesn’t seem to have the same priority as other health issues.”

Mr Ledner, who has polycystic kidney disease, drives himself to Portland for treatment but has to juggle his work commitments.

“I also have to go to Geelong for other medical treatment,” he said.

“Eventually I want to do home dialysis so I can get back to a more normal life. 

“The staff at Portland’s dialysis department are wonderful and I’ve met many others who have similar issues.”

Ian Chislett travelled up to 700 kilometres a week since January until a place recently became available at Terang, only 15 minutes away.

He hopes to have a kidney transplant early next year with his wife Karen as the donor.

“Karen and I were very disappointed in Warrnambool after trying several times to get into the dialysis department,” he said.