Marlowe Ward at Kent and Canterbury Hospital
In patient care for renal patients is provided on Marlowe Ward at Kent and Canterbury Hospital..
Marlowe Ward has 39 beds dedicated to the care of patients with a variety of renal conditions. The ward can be separated into three areas;
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14 bedded acute nephrology area
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16 bedded general nephrology area
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six bedded short stay / day case area
General nephrology
The beds in this area are designated for those with general medical problems related to kidney disease and complications of dialysis or transplantation. Patients are admitted here for a variety of diagnostic interventions such as biopsies and renal angiography, complications related to dialysis or transplantation and for the management of general medical conditions in those patients with chronic kidney disease.
General Nephrology Ward Area
Short stay /day case
The beds in this area are used for simple diagnostic investigations and any procedures which may be done on a day case basis or require an overnight admission. Patients are requested to attend this area for the administration of medications on a day-case basis to prevent unnecessary admissions.
Short Stay Area
Acute nephrology
The beds in this area are used for those who have more complicated medical problems and acute kidney injury. There is a four bedded higher care area for patients requiring more intense monitoring and four single rooms. This area is able to offer a variety of dialysis options if required as well as providing a plasma exchange service within the department and the Trust. Renal consultants are actively involved in care of patients admitted with acute renal failure in ITUs in East and West Kent. Patients from outreach areas who continue to need renal replacement therapy are transferred to renal ward at K and C once they are discharged from the ITU.
Acute Nephrology Area
Haemodialysis Units at Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Canterbury renal unit provides dialysis service for East and West Kent. Currently there are six haemodialysis units based in Canterbury, Margate, Maidstone, Medway, Dover and Ashford. The units are staffed by a Unit Manager with registered nurses and dialysis assistants. Each shift is supervised by a Consultant Nephrologists or an Associate specialist. All patients are seen regularly by their supervising Nephrologist who reviews the adequacy of their dialysis and biochemical parameters monthly. Nutritional status of the patients is assessed by Renal Dieticians and input from a Renal Pharmacologist and Councillor is available to Centre and Satellite Unit patients.
Centre Unit, Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Canterbury is the centre unit for the haemodialysis service. Patients usually start on the programme at Canterbury until they are established and stable on dialysis. Once this has been achieved patients are be transferred to a satellite unit nearest to their place of residence. Canterbury unit has 20 stations and dialyses 90 patients.
All patients dialyse at least three times a week; a few dialyse four or five times a week.
