A mobile dialysis unit which visits holiday spots across Victoria hopes to expand, after giving more than 300 dialysis patients and their families the freedom to travel in its first year of operation.

Big Red Kidney Bus: Operates in the Grampians, Mildura, Bright, Albury-Wodonga, Yarrawonga and Melbourne

Operates in the Grampians, Mildura, Bright, Albury-Wodonga, Yarrawonga and Melbourne Contains three dialysis machines provided by Monash Health

Contains three dialysis machines provided by Monash Health Open to Australians on haemodialysis in hospital, satellite unit or on home haemodialysis

Open to Australians on haemodialysis in hospital, satellite unit or on home haemodialysis Bookings at kidney.org.au Source: Kidney Health Australia

The Big Red Kidney Bus, operated by Kidney Health Australia (KHA), is the only one of its kind, and its services are in high demand.

Located for six weeks in caravan parks in Victoria, KHA said it took 327 bookings from patients in its first year.

The bus, which contains three dialysis chairs for 12 people each week, is open for booking to all Australians on haemodialysis in hospital, satellite unit or on home haemodialysis.

Anne O'Brien from Sale in regional Victoria is one of 12,500 people across Australia with kidney disease who need dialysis treatment to stay alive.

For the past 15 years, she has visited a dialysis unit three times a week for treatment.

Some patients require dialysis three times a week for several hours a session to stay alive. ( ABC News: Stephanie Anderson )

Ms O'Brien said relying on dialysis is a big impediment to travelling either to Melbourne, or visiting children interstate.

"A lot of units just cannot fit holiday patients in so this is an absolute bonus," she said.

"It's not an easy thing, and you have to be able to organise it well in advance"

Ms O'Brien visited the bus at the botanic gardens, and said the opportunity to come to Melbourne for a week was marvellous.

"It's made a big difference," she said.

"The other thing is that your partner, my husband, he won't go away without me so for the two of us to be able to go somewhere to have a break - it's just magnificent."

Dialysis bus held back by funding

Some patients require dialysis three times a week for several hours a session to stay alive.

The mobile dialysis unit is the first of its kind, and gives patients and their families the freedom to take a break. ( ABC News: Stephanie Anderson )

The idea for the bus came from a Gippsland dialysis patient, Vince Tripodi, who has since died - the bus's licence plate, 1-Vince recognises his role.

Anne Wilson from KHA said there are plans to expand the program nationwide, but it is a complicated process.

"Dialysis is funded differently in every state, and there's only so much money allocated for dialysis," she said.

"We need to work with the host hospital [and their dialysis budget] and then raise money for the fit-out."

She said it cost about $350,000 to put the bus on the road, and the organisation relied on donations to fund the fit-out.

"This is an award winning service that deserves the support of the community," Ms Wilson said.