Renal medicine

The Renal Service is provided by 2 Consultants based at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, running an outreach service to the BGH:

Dr Jane Goddard   

Dr Wendy Metcalfe

The consultants are in the BGH every week routinely for clinics (see below) and occasionally at other times, but are available via the BGH and RIE switchboards in normal working hours to discuss patients when not on site. Out of hours calls, if necessary, should be to the Renal Registrar on call via the RIE switchboard. 

The services we offer: 

Outpatients

There are General Nephrology Clinics catering for patients with all types of renal disease including follow up of transplant patients and patients opting for Conservative care of their end-stage renal impairment.

Clinics are twice a week on a Monday morning (Dr Metcalfe) and Thursday morning (Dr Goddard). Patients with progressive chronic kidney disease likely to reach end-stage should be referred to the clinics early, as adequate physical & emotional preparation for kidney replacement therapy can take up to a year.

Dr Metcalfe also runs a Peritoneal Dialysis Clinic on a Wednesday afternoon once a month. 

Dialysis

The BGH Haemodialysis Unit has 12 stations and is currently running 4 shifts on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday morning and afternoon and on a Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday morning and afternoon. Patients are formally reviewed monthly on the Unit.

There are currently 5 patients on peritoneal dialysis but currently no patients who perform haemodialysis at home in the Borders area. In addition to clinic follow up (see above) they have a named community dialysis nurse based in the RIE who provides dialysis support at home. 

Holiday Dialysis

The BGH Haemodialysis Unit is sometimes able to offer holiday haemodialysis to patients holidaying in the area. Availability is limited so please contact the team well in advance. Enquiries should be made to:

Email: Anne.Renton@nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk

Or telephone 01896 826637 

Inpatients

We provide a review service for BGH in-patients requiring a renal opinion. For non-urgent referrals, this will be on a clinic day so please ensure you email us by 9am on Monday/Thursday. Please ensure you give a contact number that we can speak to you on.

For more urgent cases, contact us via email or telephone (through switchboard) to discuss the patient. We are sometimes in the BGH at other times and may be able to review the patient directly or may advise investigations/treatment or transfer to the Renal Unit at the RIE for further assessment as appropriate. 

Please ensure you give a contact number that we can speak to you on.

When patients on haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or with a kidney transplant are admitted please always let us know. If the reason for their admission relates directly to their renal replacement therapy, please contact Dr Metcalfe, Dr Goddard or, if out of hours, the Renal Registrar as soon as possible after admission to discuss management and possible transfer to RIE. If admitted for a non-renal reason, please still inform either Dr Metcalfe or Dr Goddard as soon as possible the next working day (or Renal Registrar at weekend).

Please note the Haemodialysis Unit in the BGH is nurse-led and is not able to provide dialysis for medically unstable patients. There is no provision for peritoneal dialysis within the BGH and patients should not be assumed to be able to manage their own treatment – discussion is necessary. These patients often need to be transferred to the RIE for further care. 

Advice 

edren.org – From Edinburgh Renal Unit Renal Medicine has its own comprehensive website, Edren - in most cases Refhelp simply provides a link to this site for further information.