Renal Services

The Renal Services department at UHCW is led by a team of 13 consultants, working with five consultants in Renal Transplant and Access Surgery. Our base ward is Ward 50.

Consultants are supported by senior trainees (registrars), who have decided to spend a year (or more) of their training in Coventry.

In addition, we are supported by trust grade registrars, junior doctors, Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Renal Nurse Specialists (RNS; who work partly in the community), managers and an administration team. We also have specialist dietitians, social workers, technicians and a psychologist.

We are the regional centre for Nephrology and Transplantation for Coventry and Warwickshire. We cover up to one million patients and provide a comprehensive renal service; including all types of dialysis - for AKI , Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End-stage Renal Failure (ESRF) - and both deceased donor and living transplantation. We also carry out renal transplantation for patients with high levels of antibody, and across the ABO barrier (Antibody Incompatible Transplantation) – with a desensitisation protocol.

There are about 1,000 patients on haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, having supportive care or with a transplant. We provide a plasma exchange service for renal and non-renal (e.g. haematology, neurology) patients. We have a research programme, with an interest in transplantation immunology. We have also been involved in the development of the four-year 'postgraduate' medical course at Warwick Medical School, which took its first entry in October 2000.

Ward 50 is a 22-bed ward, senior led with a multi-disciplinary approach. We provide care for all renal patients requiring admission; e.g, those requiring renal investigation, ‘access’ (i.e. to the body, to carry out dialysis) surgery, and renal replacement therapy including emergency haemodialysis and plasma exchange.

Patients with short-term kidney failure in the rest of the hospital are reviewed by the Acute Kidney Injury nurses or registrars. On discharge, they will receive a follow-up clinic appointment, either face to face or virtual, in either the AKI or Renal HOT clinic. This is to review their kidney function and provide education and guidance on how to prevent or reduce the likelihood of future injuries.

The Renal Day Unit, which is also on Ward 50, offers an outpatient and day case service. The unit comprises eight bed spaces, two of which are used for bloods and other small procedures requiring treatment in a chair. It is designed for patients who are admitted for elective day case surgery and specialist treatments (e.g. iron infusion).
Occasionally we have patients from other specialities for day case procedures. The unit is open Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 8pm.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) occurs when patients suffer from long-term, permanent and irreversible loss of kidney function. Patients whose kidney function (Glomerular Filtration Rate, or GFR) deteriorates to below 30 per cent, have reached ‘Stage Four CKD’ and may be referred to the Renal Nurse Specialists (RNS) by the renal consultants. Their role is to optimise the management of patients with CKD and ensure, if they need dialysis or transplantation, it is a smooth transition.

The RNS team provide a structured and planned educational programme with flexible content relevant to a patient’s clinical and psychological requirements, which are adapted to meet educational and cultural needs. Services provided include nurse-led/telephone clinics, home visits, anaemia management and an education programme.

The Renal Research Department team seek to improve patient care through research. The Renal Clinical Psychologist offers patients an opportunity to explore the emotional impact of CKD and ESRF; and, if appropriate, work with individuals to enhance current strengths and create helpful coping strategies. Common reasons for referrals include feeling worried or overwhelmed, body image issues, sleep difficulties, and needle phobia or fear of medical procedures.

Clinical Psychologists specialise in ‘talking therapies’ that help people to make sense of their emotional and psychological state.

You will be referred either through your GP or referred internally from within the hospital (e.g. acute kidney injury patients). Patients with kidney problems may be transferred from both Warwick and George Eliot Hospitals to our care for further investigation, treatment and dialysis. All Renal Day Unit patients are admitted through a referral process. We also have five satellite haemodialysis units at Leamington (Whitnash), Stratford Upon Avon, Clay Lane (Central Coventry), Hospital of St Cross (Rugby) and Nuneaton (George Eliot).

Ward 50 and the Renal Day Unit (on W50) are located on the fifth floor at University Hospital in Coventry.
Ward 50: Beds 1-8, 02476 967703; Beds 9-20, 02476 968258; Beds 20-30, 02476 968256.
Ward Manager Abbi Waddell: 02476 968262.

Renal Social Worker: 02476 968263.
Renal Access: 02476 968307.
Renal Day Unit: 02476 967703.
Renal Dialysis Unit: 02476 967777.
Renal Research Team: 02476 965101.
Renal Dietetics: 02476 966151.
Peritoneal Dialysis: 02476 968308.
Acute Kidney Injury Team: 02476 968265/02476 967641.
Transplant co-ordinators: Yvonne Myers 02476 966207; Jane Reid 02476 967790; Laura Fraser 02476 967828; Rufina Sanchez 02476 967744; Sharon Timms 02476 967782; Mary Healey 02476 967746; Esther Theophilus 02476 967745; Nora Skinner 02476 967745; Cheryl Paczynski 02476 967745.
Post Transplant Clinic: 02476 967746 /02476967745
Renal Clinical Psychology Service: 02476 968288.

Please visit the Did We Get it Right? page.
For patient information leaflets click here.
To find out more about kidney disease and treatments visit Kidney Care UK and Chronic Kidney Disease explained.
Dietary advice for renal patients is available here.