Renal

 

The service is committed to providing the highest quality care to people with renal failure, to encourage independence and to ensure patients have their maximum quality of life.

 

CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) Service
The CAPD service is managed from MidCentral DHB’s renal unit but is a service for patients in the community. Renal patients receive home-visits from nurses.

 

Self-Care Unit
The self care unit is for patients who can almost independently manage haemodialysis but still require support. The self care unit is located in STAR 3 at Palmerston North Hospital. It provides a relaxed and comfortable environment, similar to a patient’s own home.

 

Patients will have their kidney transplant at Wellington Hospital but receive pre and post-transplant care out of MidCentral DHB, mainly through community clinics.

 

Patients who are trained to independently have haemodialysis at home are supported by the renal nurses, doctors and technical staff.

 

For patients in the early stages of renal failure, pre-dialysis nurses give support and education to patients in their homes and refer them to a dietician and the renal social worker to promote well-being. 

 

MidCentral DHB’s nephrology service provides consultant clinics to patients with kidney problems.

 

What is renal disease?
Renal or kidney disease is when your kidneys fail to function normally. Kidney disease is often related to diabetes (link to MDHB diabetes page) but it can also be found in people who:

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is when nearly all kidney function is lost. You will probably need to meet with a specialist to discuss your treatment options such as dialysis.

 

There are two types of dialysis, Haemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis.

 

Haemodialysis is when your blood is filtered by a machine. The blood is pumped out and then returned, cleansed, to your body.

 

Peritoneal dialysis is when a sugar-based (PD) fluid is put into your abdominal cavity through a tube so your waste products can diffuse into it, after which it is removed.

 

At MidCentral DHB there are several options for having dialysis treatment depending on factors such as whether you have early or chronic kidney failure, or are able to self-manage your dialysis. The specialist will meet with you and if necessary refer you to a pre-dialysis nurse who will discuss with you the most appropriate way to treat your kidney disease.

 

Kidney transplant is another treatment option. A kidney could be donated either by a living donor or be cadaveric (a kidney from someone who has died).

For more information
The Kidney Health New Zealand website has more information about organ donation, transplantation, kidney disease and treatments.