Renal unit links with a 'centre of excellence'

THE Guernsey Renal Unit has formed a new partnership with the Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust. Prior to September 1998, when the Guernsey unit opened, patients with kidney failure had to travel to Jersey for haemodialysis.

Due to the unit's success, the Board of Health has transferred the contract for the provision of visiting consultants and nurses to Guy's with effect from next month. The unit was originally set up and run in association with Portsmouth Hospitals NHS.

'There will still be occasions when patients may have to go away but we are very fortunate to have links with the level of expertise that there is at Guy's,' said Board of Health clinical services manager Lynne McLagan.

'Portsmouth, Guy's and the Board of Health have worked very closely with each other on the transfer of the contract and it's all been very positive.'

Contracts for the unit's six staff will be transferred from Portsmouth Hospitals to Guy's.

'I think each one sees it as an opportunity for development because they are now part of a centre of excellence and it's good in terms of career progression,' said Ms McLagan.

Four stations are in regular use within the unit while a fifth is in isolation. A sixth one is planned as part of the hospital's redevelopment.

Guy's Hospital consultant nephrologist Professor Steve Sacks said he was pleased to be making the connection with Guernsey.

'We hope to give Guernsey the benefits of coming into a large clinical service with one of the largest haemodialysis, nephrology and transplantation programmes in the UK,' he said.

'Hopefully, people with kidney problems will have the types that do not progress but, if they do, we can provide all sorts of treatment.'

Guy's general manager David Probert said trips to Guernsey had shown him that there was a fantastic opportunity to develop the service and carry on the work that Portsmouth had started.

'We will have a regular clinic on about a six-weekly basis, come what may, and a 24-hour advice service will be available by telephone,' he said.

'We have a large nursing input to our renal programme and we will be working with GPs to ensure potential kidney problems are identified as early as possible.'

Guy's head of nursing Katrina Cooney said the partnership element was the key to future success.

'If we can share our knowledge and skills, it can only benefit the patients and hopefully offer them more choice,' she said.