.

Haemodialysis Units

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 30 stations and dialyses 130 patients at full capacity.

All patients dialyse at least three times a week; a few dialyse four or five times a week.

Dialysis shifts at Canterbury Unit

The unit is open from Monday to Saturday each week;

  • Monday / Wednesday / Friday from 7.15am to 1.30pm.

  • Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday from 7.15am to 8pm

There are two patient shifts per day:-

Monday / Wednesday / Friday (morning)       

  • 7.45am
  • 8.00am
  • 8.20am
  • 8.40am

Monday / Wednesday / Friday (afternoon)

  • 1.30pm
  • 2.00pm
  • 2.20pm
  • 2.40pm

Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday (morning)

  • 7.45am
  • 8.00am
  • 8.20am
  • 8.40am

Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday (afternoon)

  • 1.00pm
  • 2.00pm
  • 2.20pm
  • 2.40pm
Patient shifts

 

In addition there is a twilight shift on Monday/Wednesday/Friday evenings for patients who work or have commitments during the day. Most patients on this shift are physically very well and drive themselves in for dialysis.

The Alan Squirrel Satellite Renal Services Unit at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, Margate - QEQM is a District General Hospital located in the Thanet peninsula south east of Canterbury.

The Alan Squirrel Satellite Renal Services Unit at Medway Hospital - Medway Hospital is a busy District General Hospital located in the Gillingham, about 35 miles from Canterbury.

Maidstone Kidney Care Centre– 24 stations operating 2 shifts daily at Maidstone Hospital about 32 miles from Canterbury.

Dover Renal Satellite Unit – Located at Buckland Hospital in Dover. It has 11 stations.

Ashford Satellite Renal Services Unit - Located at William Harvey Hospital, Ashford. It has 15 stations which operate in two shifts

Home Haemodialysis is managed by the home dialysis team. Undertaking this treatment at home offers you more flexibility with your time as you may wish to dialyse for shorter more frequent sessions. For more information please go to the Home haemodialysis page.