“You can shine here”
A brand-new centre which aims to improve care for our dialysis patients has been officially opened at Mile End Hospital.
The Independent Therapies Centre, which was officially opened on July 24, includes six Home Haemodialysis training stations, five shared care haemodialysis stations, enhanced Peritoneal Dialysis training and five dedicated spaces for young adults.
Supported by £3.8 million in funding from Barts Charity, it has been designed to be a space that doesn't feel like a hospital ward.
Benefits include giving patients the flexibility to dialyse at times that suit their schedules, a less clinical and more social setting and empower them to learn and manage their own dialysis.
Suzanne Forbes, kidney consultant and clinical Lead for dialysis at Barts Health, said: "For people with end-stage kidney disease, dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment that is demanding and time-consuming. Thanks to funding from Barts Charity, the new Shadwell Independent Therapies Centre has been designed to transform the patient experience by putting independence, flexibility and personalised care at its heart.
"The centre brings together home haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis training, a dedicated self-care area and the UK’s first haemodialysis unit designed specifically for young people aged 16-25. By supporting more patients to undertake dialysis at home, we offer greater freedom, improved wellbeing and more control over treatment. For those unable to dialyse at home, the self-care unit provides a supportive environment to develop skills, build confidence and connect with others.
"Developed in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Young Adult Haemodialysis Unit provides a welcoming space and innovative hub to help young people transition to adult services, feeling empowered to manage their health and future."
The aim of the centre is to also help young adults transition from paediatric to adult care, meeting their specific needs and reduce anxieties.
One patient who has benefitted from the service is Tahmina Begum, who says it has been life-changing and made her “feel happy”.
She said: “You can shine here and I’m more comfortable.
“Being here with younger people makes me feel happy and young.
“On the ninth floor [at The Royal London Hospital], it was older people. It made me feel like I was old.”
The new centre includes a breakout and social space where young people can spend time together before and after treatment - something Tahmina says makes a huge difference.
“When you get off the machine, you get cramps, and in the break-out room there’s more freedom,” she explained. “The break-out room feels good.”
The dedicated space for young adults at Mile End was created by a group of young people (including Tahmina) who were involved in the co-creation of the new environment and services.
"Being involved in the process of creating the new unit was a really positive experience," Eliza Jeurissen (who was part of the group), said.
"There was a huge emphasis on incorporating our needs as young people and I felt that a lot of effort was put into creating this space. It wasn’t rushed and our opinions were never overlooked. Our input was included during every step of the process and I’m very thankful to everyone involved who made sure this was not just another regular unit.
"When we visited the completed unit, we were really impressed by how the virtual designs that were shown to us by the design team were truly reflected in the end result, going beyond our expectations. We never felt like a hospital unit could ever feel comfortable or welcoming until this was made."
Patients with end-stage kidney disease will need lifelong renal replacement therapy. Home-based therapies are recommended and have shown to improve quality of life and health outcomes - but not all patients can access these due to unsuitable housing conditions. For instance, those living where space is limited, and those living in rented accommodation where required plumbing and refurbishment works would mean getting permission from a landlord.
Fiona Miller Smith, Chief Executive of Barts Charity, said: “The new Renal Centre is a brilliant example of our commitment to fund projects that transform patient care and tackle health inequalities head on. As the first centre of its kind in the country, it demonstrates how hospitals can deliver truly patient-centred solutions by listening to their communities and responding. We’re proud to help make this vision a reality.”