Dialysis patients on the North Shore and in West Auckland will soon have better access to life-saving treatment, with 35 upgraded machines and new evening dialysis sessions rolling out, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

The Community Dialysis Centre in Albany will receive 21 of the new machines, while 14 have already been installed at Waitākere Hospital.

The upgrades replace older equipment and make it easier for patients to receive treatment closer to home, especially for those commuting from the Hibiscus Coast.

Evening dialysis will also be introduced at Waitākere, giving patients more flexibility to fit treatment around work, family, and daily life.

“By extending operating hours, we’re not only reducing pressure on daytime capacity but offering greater flexibility for those juggling work, family, and other commitments,” Mr Brown says.

The new dialysers offer “Haemodiafiltration-like” treatment that’s more effective and better tolerated, with fewer side effects such as low blood pressure.

Mr Brown says improving dialysis access across the North Shore and West Auckland strengthens the region’s health system.

“It provides life-saving, flexible, and patient-centred care, allowing more New Zealanders to receive treatment closer to home.”

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