The 46-year-old Warrnambool man previously had to travel to Portland three times a week to sit in a dialysis chair for five hours after his diabetic condition deteriorated.

A shortage of approved allocations in the Warr-nambool hospital unit had forced some district patients to travel further afield with some like Mr Gent going to Portland while others went as far as Colac and Geelong.

Then in October, after The Standard highlighted the issue, the base hospital announced its haemo-dialysis capacity would be expanded to operate a further three days a week, enabling another eight patients to have their required treatment closer to home.

The hospital’s budget was tweaked to allow for the estimated extra $150,000 cost and clearance was obtained from the Health Department and St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, which co-ordinates dialysis placements.

Mr Gent welcomed the expansion which means easier access to the treatment he will have to stay on for the rest of his life. 

“It’s been a great outcome and a great Christmas present,” he said.

“I’m grateful to the kind staff at Portland and Warrnambool hospitals.”