Home dialysis peer support now available

Monklands residents with kidney problems can take advantage of a welcome boost with the launch of the UK’S first national “home dialysis peer support service”.

The National Kidney Federation (NKF) is “delighted” to announce the move, with the service now up and running.

The NKF peer supporters have experienced home dialysis themselves or are carers wanting to support other people with kidney disease, especially those who are considering or just starting to use home dialysis therapies.

Peer support ideally happens between individuals who share similar life experiences, lifestyles and are approximately the same age.

Patients wanting to use the service will be able to call the NKF helpline free of charge, where the helpline advisers will match the patient with an appropriate peer to offer one-to-one support.

The NKF peer supporters will cover the whole of the UK and give support over various communications including telephone, video calls via Zoom and at some stage face-to-face chats.

NKF chief executive Andrea Brown said: “We are proud to launch a national service for patients who are either considering or beginning to use home dialysis therapies.

“At the NKF we believe it is a crucial area to connect experienced peers with patients as stages 4 and 5 of chronic kidney disease (CKD) can have an overwhelming impact on patients’ lives.

“Offering this free support will introduce new ideas and approaches to patients who want to home dialyse which they may find helpful to continue their dayto-day routines.”

If you would like someone to talk to and explore the option of dialysis at home, the peer support service is now open.

For help, advice or just some reassurance, contact the NKF free helpline, which is available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, on 0800 169 09 36, or for more information, visit https://www.kidney.org.uk/peer-support

Invaluable insight NKF peer supporters have experienced home dialysis themselves