Peritoneal dialysis and home haemodialysis

What is peritoneal dialysis?

Peritoneal dialysis is a form of dialysis that means you can treat kidney failure in the comfort of your own home. 

Dialysis is a process for removing excess water and blood from the body, acting as a filter in the same way the kidney would if it were functioning.

Peritoneal dialysis is as effective as dialysis given in hospital, and more gentle. The dialysis can be performed at intervals that are convenient to you during the day, by you or via a machine at night. We call these techniques continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and automated peritoneal dialysis (APD).

Who at Royal Free Hospital supports my peritoneal dialysis? 

Your dialysis care is supported by specialist renal nurses who are there to help new and established peritoneal dialysis patients. Each patient has a dedicated nurse who provides you with regular assessment, monitoring and advice.

All dialysis patients attend out-patient clinic appointments with their named nurse and are seen by the peritoneal dialysis doctors routinely every six months.

Royal Free London home haemodialysis 

Home haemodialysis is available to Royal Free Hospital patients. If you are eligible for home treatment you will be trained by our renal team to use a home haemodialysis machine. A specialist renal nurse working as part of a team of specialists will provide support to new and established home haemodialysis patients.

If you have an urgent problem while using a dialysis machine at home then please contact your GP, or call NHS 111 and they will advise on whether to visit your nearest urgent care centre or A&E.

Royal Free Hospital vascular access: permanent dialysis access 

The renal vascular access service at the Royal Free Hospital caters for all kidney patients who require permanent dialysis access for home haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

We run a one-stop clinic where patients are offered theatre appointment dates immediately after surgical assessment. Most access procedures are done in day surgery and are routinely followed up in our nurse-led dialysis access clinic.