Ayrshire kidney disease patients first to carry out their own treatment

A new scheme is being piloted in Ayrshire and Arran encouraging patients with end stage kidney disease to carry out some of their treatment on their own.

Some patients’ bodies are unable to "clean" their blood of toxins and receive haemodialysis (HD) through a machine which performs this function for them. This means renal patients have to attend hospital sometimes up to three times a week for four to five hours at a time.

SHAREHD Care is a Health Foundation-funded programme that aims to support patients to be more independent and confident in carrying out some of the treatment themselves.

Staff and patients take part in specialised training which then allows the patient to choose which part of their care they wish to carry out themselves. This can include:

• measuring their weight;

• measuring their blood pressure, pulse and temperature;

• completing their dialysis book;

• preparing their dressing pack;

• setting up their machine;

• programming their machine;

• putting in and taking out their own needles; and

• starting, monitoring and finishing their dialysis.

Dr Vishal Dey, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist at University Hospital Crosshouse, said: “We are delighted to be chosen as a pilot area for this innovative programme. Having kidney disease can have a major impact of a person’s life both in terms of the impact on health but also on a person’s daily life.

"We believe that our patients can truly benefit from taking part in this programme. It could allow them to have their treatment more quickly in hospital or even help them to progress to managing their own condition with home dialysis. It creates a culture of independence and gives patients greater control over their own health which is one of the things they most value."