ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher MLA today launched the ACT's first independent dialysis facility providing an alternative location to a hospital for kidney patients who cannot perform their own dialysis at home.

'Self care' dialysis has been shown to be beneficial for patients and the new facility is a flexible option for people who can't do dialysis at home to benefit from dialysis outside a hospital.

"This means people can access the care they need closer to home and without having to go into hospital," the Chief Minister said.

"Not everyone can undertake dialysis at home for various reasons, often medical, but sometimes for social reasons such as lack of adequate space, privacy or family commitments. The Weston Independent dialysis facility will help overcome these social limitations and allow patients who are capable of performing their own dialysis to undertake their treatment in a home like setting."

Following training, clients will independently set up and perform their dialysis using a machine which they will program to suit their treatment needs. Renal Home Therapies will review clients on a regular basis and offer advice and support.

"The new facility is also accessible for clients to dialyse at their own convenience without the time restrictions of a hospital-based dialysis unit," the Chief Minister said.

"Importantly patients will undertake intensive training under the guidance of experienced dialysis nurses at the Renal Home Therapies Unit to make sure they are comfortable with the equipment before they use the facility."

The Weston Independent Dialysis facility is a project undertaken by Renal Services at the Canberra Hospital, with support from the local Kidney Patient Support Group and is an extension of a project which supports three other such facilities in regional NSW.

"Improvements and refinements to the NSW facilities were considered in establishing this new facility so I expect it to be well received by patients in the ACT," the Chief Minister said.

"The ACT Government recognises the importance of the growing demand for Renal Dialysis, the impact it has on the Community, especially the patients and carers, so I am proud to launch the facility in the region," the Chief Minister concluded.