The Future August 2012_Layout 1 05/11/2012 18:28 Page 2
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the FuTure . . . .
A day in the life of . .
. . the Renal Unit
Kidney disease affects all ages of the population and has a number of causes. Over the years, knowledge of treating kidney disease has improved significantly; it is now recognised far earlier and this, of course, has had a dramatic impact on treatment. A day spent in the renal (meaning pertaining to the kidneys) unit at Southend University Hospital is proof that much can be done to help patients who have kidney failure. The unit, situated at the end of the main car park, is bright and purpose built with 28 beds. It has a dedicated staff of 53 ranging from porters, renographers, receptionists, consultants and nursing staff. Many patients come to the renal unit for dialysis and when they arrive they are attached to a blood cleansing machine (haemodialysis) and spend a few hours resting whilst the procedure takes place. Some patients are fortunately able to have haemodialysis in their own homes as they have the machinery installed. Others are able to have a treatment called peritoneal dialysis which is a procedure that can also be done at home and is performed through a tube in the tummy that introduces fluid in at one end which is drained from the other.
The consultant staff themselves have different specialties, such as Dr Fernando Moro-Azuela, who deals with complications caused by diabetes. Southend University Hospital is extremely proud of Dr Mike Almond, consultant renal physician who also serves as a Squadron Leader in the Auxiliary Royal Air Force and has had tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Dr Sarietha Kumar has been a shining light behind the introduction of the home haemodialysis programme alongside the home therapies team. One of the impressive areas of progress in treating kidney disease has been the introduction of a 'virtual clinic' managed by Dr Patrick Harnett. He has more than 300 patients registered in this clinic where their regular blood pressure and blood test results are telephoned or emailed through to Dr Hartnett and any deterioration is immediately noted and dealt with. This saves patients coming to hospital for routine clinic visits, without affecting the quality of their care or monitoring. This is part of Southend University Hospital's vision for a 'Hospital without Walls’. Mr Matthew Jakeways is the very skilled vascular surgeon who forms
dialysis access for all Southend patients to connect the patient to the machine. One of the ward managers of the renal unit, Maggie Farrell, liaises with the transplant centres and ensures a smooth work up for patients awaiting kidney transplant. This surgery is not undertaken at Southend as numbers do not warrant a local specialist centre, but is carried out at either the Royal London Hospital or Guys. However, the department has a critical role to play in ensuring patients remain fit and well and ready for surgery
Ward Manager Lis McNally with a dialysis machine