Kidney services

Overview

COVID-19: Information for kidney patients at the Royal Free London

As a kidney patient you are at an increased risk of becoming unwell if you are infected with coronavirus. Therefore it is important that you follow NHS national advice around thorough and frequent hand washing and hygiene.

The government’s guidance about COVID-19 is regularly updating and it is important to keep up to date with the latest information. The most up to date advice can be found here: www.gov.uk/coronavirus. 

Everyone should be observing social distancing now and there are no additional measures for patients with chronic kidney disease. However, transplant patients and those patients taking a certain level of immunosuppression medicines have been designated extremely vulnerable and should rigorously follow shielding measures in order to keep themselves safe. 

More COVID-19 information for transplant patients at the Royal Free London is available here: www.royalfree.nhs.uk/services/services-a-z/kidney-services/kidney-transplants

The Kidney Care UK website also provides a good summary of the current advice for patients: www.kidneycareuk.org/news-and-campaigns/coronavirus-advice

Kidney patient advice line

Email: rf.covidkidneyadviceline@nhs.net or if you don’t have email or want to speak to someone sooner, please use our direct line telephone number: 020 7472 6687 (Monday to Friday, 9-5pm).

What are renal services?

Our renal services team at Barnet Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital provides a range of treatments to patients with kidney problems and kidney failure as a result of having kidney disease, such as:

  • general nephrology – kidney disease treatment for acute and chronic kidney disease patients
  • kidney dialysis services for advanced chronic kidney disease patients to filter the blood from harmful waste
  • kidney transplant services – for patients who have experienced kidney failure
  • support services, such as clinical psychology and dietary support to help patients cope with the lifestyle changes brought about by kidney disease.

For more information on how we provide kidney disease treatment at the Royal Free London, please see our services and additional information links below.

Contact

Do you have an appointment?

Find your ward

  • Kidney patient advice line

    Email: rf.covidkidneyadviceline@nhs.net or if you don’t have email or want to speak to someone sooner, please use our direct line telephone number: 020 7472 6687 (Monday to Friday, 9-5pm)

    What should I do if I am running out of medication?

    If you are running low on medication that is usually provided by the kidney clinic, please contact the renal pharmacy team by email on rf.renalpharmacy@nhs.net or call 020 7472 6613.

  • Barnet Hospital

    Wellhouse Lane
    Barnet
    EN5 3DJ   

    Patient and GP enquiries: 020 8216 4955 / 56 / 57

  • Edgware Community Hospital

    Burnt Oak Broadway
    Edgware
    Middlesex
    HA8 0AD

    Patient and GP enquiries: 020 8732 4160

  • Mary Rankin dialysis unit

    St Pancras Hospital
    4 St Pancras Way
    London
    NW1 0PE

    Patient and GP enquiries: 020 3758 2030 Ext 82030

  • Royal Free Hospital

    Pond Street
    London
    NW3 2QG

    Patient and GP enquiries: 020 7794 0500 Ext 34133 

  • Tottenham Hale Kidney and Diabetes Centre

    5-7 Daneland Walk
    London
    N17 9FE

    Patient and GP enquiries: 020 7830 2820

Referrals

Referral details

Referrals to the nephrology team can be made via a GP or hospital doctor. We regret we cannot see patients without an appointment. 
    

Tests to do before you refer to the hospital


Electronic referrals to the Nephrology service at Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust (Hampstead and Barnet) are made by a GP via the Referral Assessment Service (‘RAS’) as of 23rd March 2020.  GPs in Camden, Barnet and Islington should continue to use the EMIS direct referral pathway.  


Tertiary referrals from other hospital consultants are also available via rf.renaladmin@nhs.net


All referrals are assessed, and in many cases rapid advice and guidance is given without patients having to attend an appointment.  
 

The Team

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