There is an established regional network that includes educational activities including the annual regional network study day to provide educational updates and training educational study day and provision of regional guidelines alongside a network of outreach clinics at 11 other hospitals across the region. Thus, providing shared care for patients and in-line with the principle of providing equity of access to quality care as close to home as possible for a population of children with complex and/or chronic disease (NHS Kidney Care-supported Improving the standard of care of children with kidney disease through paediatric nephrology networks, RCPCH 2011).
Haemodialysis
The haemodialysis unit is co-located with the renal inpatient ward (L50). This is a designated 5 station unit, including an isolation cubicle with a separate entrance for family and patients. Haemodialysis (haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration) is delivered in centre with routine haemodialysis delivered Monday to Saturday (6-day service) with a 7 day/week daytime urgent dialysis cover. The number of children receiving dialysis ranges from 8-12. Leeds is one of the KQuIP (Kidney Quality Improvement project) establishing home haemodialysis and as part of this there is a haemodialysis nursing staff expansion programme including rotational nursing staff from the ward and an nurse educator role.
Peritoneal dialysis
There is an established peritoneal dialysis programme with patient numbers ranging from 4-10. There is urology surgical support for catheter insertion for acute and chronic peritoneal dialysis. There is a training package for carers led by the specialist nursing team with a combination of in hospital and at home training. There is ongoing support from the specialist nursing team at home with electronic access to each dialysis session. There is monthly outpatient review of all patients receiving peritoneal dialysis in our MDT clinic.
Transplantation
There is an active transplantation programme in Leeds with an average of 10 transplants per year, with a current cohort of 65 transplant patients under follow up. There is specialist nursing support for transplant work up and a comprehensive MDT transplant listing programme involving nephrologist, transplant surgeons, immunological laboratory, specialist nurses, psychology and social workers. The transplant programme is supported by the transplant surgical team Mr Masood, Ms Martinez-Lopez and Mr Falconer.
Nephro-Urology
There are close links with the paediatric urology MDT. There is a monthly nephro-urology MDT to discuss complex cases and a monthly joint nephro-urology clinic. There is access to non-invasive and invasive urodynamics and an evolving medical bladders service.
There are a number of specialised clinics including antenatal counselling, regional stone service, Tuberosclerosis clinics and joint rheumatology clinics. As well as specialist renal services, the department also provides secondary referral care for a large range of paediatric nephrology referrals including urinary tract infection, haematuria, proteinuria and problems with incontinence
Outpatient services
In Leeds the paediatric renal service outpatient clinics are based within Children’s outpatients in Martin Wing on Leeds General Infirmary site with a dedicated paediatric play support and phlebotomy service. There are weekly transplant, general nephrology and chronic kidney disease clinics. In addition, there outreach joint clinics across Yorkshire and the Humber based in Airedale, Bradford, Dewsbury, Grimsby, Halifax, Huddersfield, Hull, Pinderfields, Scunthorpe, York (Scarborough).
Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.
