Next Steps

Kidney function is essential for life. When your kidneys fail, you will need lifelong treatment to replace your kidney function. Not every patient can have a kidney transplant. For many of you, dialysis will be the only available therapy. Home based dialysis treatments are effective and are designed to be flexible to suit your lifestyle and individual needs. For you to make the best decisions about your care, you need information about your dialysis choices at the right time and in a form that you can understand. This will allow you to discuss and plan your treatment with your clinical team.

By providing patients with resources to access information about dialysis, how and when they chose, they are better empowered to make informed decisions about their treatments with the support of their clinicians.

Professor Catherine Wall, Consultant Nephrologist, Tallaght University Hospital

Patients with CKD who progress to requiring Renal Replacement therapy in their future face life altering decisions. They need support in order to help them choose a form of therapy that will have best outcomes, aid quality of life and fit their needs. Engagement with patient’s leads to better understanding therefore they are more informed and empowered to choose a therapy appropriate to them. Utilising resource’s that will influence decision making such as web based information, face to face patient education session including views of the lived experience and support systems strengthen this process

Chronic Kidney Disease Team, UL Hospitals Group, University Hospital Limerick