Tayside Renal Service

18/11/2025

If you've ever attended hospital you may recall the very first time and perhaps being a little nervous and not knowing what to expect. Well, imagine what its like for patients attending their first dialysis session: a busy ward full of patients and nurses and surrounded by alien looking machines that seem to be all flashing lights and bleeping. In the link below, the video was commissioned specifically to show what its like and to hopefully dispel any feelings of stress or anxiety. Watch the video and then take the virtual tour, we hope you find it helpful.

https://tourmkr.com/F1ylDVfHVQ

Thanks to Alex and the team at Vega 360 Virtual Tours

Explore the vitual tour of the NHS Tayside Renal Service at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee.

23/10/2025

Earlier in the year we published the story of a successful transplant where the donor described the process of living donation and how it felt to be giving the gift of life. Well, the person he donated to, Vikki, paid the department a visit yesterday and left us with a mountain of goodies ! Very many thanks Vikki and heres wishing you the very best of health from the Renal Unit.

30/09/2025

25/09/2025

In this organ transplant week it seems appropriate to highlight a couple of articles in this months Kidney Matters: a discussion by a patient on his experiences with finding a living donor; and a discussion on porcine transplants in the US.

https://mailchi.mp/kidneycareuk/autumn-9544170?e=786ff9c0e9

24/09/2025

Organ Transplant week was marked in Ninewells with our two transplant nurses, Claire and Ashley, with Lynne Malley from NHSBT.
If you want to be considered as a potential living donor you'll find a questionnaire on the Renal web page.
https://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/OurServicesA-Z/RenalServices/PROD_372267/index.htm

18/09/2025

Today marks Healthcare Support Workers day and Ninewells Renal Unit marked the occasion with a small celebration arranged by our very own Pam. In attendance, at various times, were Vikki, Kim, Sam, Rhys, Lia, Caitlyn, Zoe, Donna, Audrey, Sylvia, Kate, Gemma, Nicky, Morgan and Laura. Thanks to Pam for organising.

16/09/2025

Kidney PREM 2025 is now open ! Click the link below to access the survey:

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

04/09/2025

September 15th sees the start of the annual survey, Kidney PREM (Patient Recorded Experience Measure), your chance as a patient, relative or carer to feedback to us your views on how we have performed over the past year. We got a really good response last year so we're hoping for an even better result this year.
More information will be published nearer the time so watch this space !

03/09/2025

Tayside Kidney Patients Association does a lot of great work for patients and their families so if you happen to be in the Kirriemuir area on the 20th why not drop in for a coffee and blether and at the same time help a very good cause.

26/08/2025

The Renal Unit ward clerk, Karen Archibald, recently retired. She has been with the Tayside renal service for 35 years and will be sorely missed by all her colleagues and patients that she has known over the years. She was a great asset to us all. Wishing you a long and happy retirement Karen !

16/08/2025

Today is World Organ Donation Day.

We honour and thank organ donors everywhere. Without living donors, donors and courageous donor families agreeing lives would not, and will not be saved, so to all donor we thank you for your strength.

To Donor Families; In the midst of your sadness you agreed to give life and hope to others. The gift of life you have given so freely and in love is appreciated every day. Love lives on thanks to your courage and compassion. Thank you for your strength

Thank you if you have already decided to save lives by agreeing to organ donation and have shared your organ donation decision. Have you?

Maybe by you sharing this post one other person will be encouraged to share their wishes about their organ donation decision and more lives may be saved.

Please about your decisions with your loved ones, say and register your decision at NHS Organ Donation💙❤️

14/08/2025

First patient in Tayside receives new dialysis treatment at home

Gayle Fisher from Newtyle has become the first patient in Tayside to receive a new type of dialysis treatment from the comfort of their own home.

Gayle has Reflux Nephropathy and she has been on dialysis for two years whilst awaiting a kidney transplant. Normally Gayle would visit Ninewells Hospital three times a week and spend up to six hours undergoing treatment and travelling to appointments. Now thanks to this new treatment option, Gayle has access to an NX Stage VersiHD machine and is able to operate it by herself from the comfort of her own home.

Although home dialysis has been an option for Tayside patients for many years, this new machine is fully portable, meaning patients can receive their treatment from home, or even while travelling, giving them greater control, flexibility and independence. Renal staff are also on hand 24-hours a day to be able to offer support if patients encounter any problems.

Charge Nurse Hazel Lowe said, “The Home Therapies team is pleased to be able to offer this new portable dialysis treatment for our patients.

“This will allow patients to have more control over their treatment from the comfort of their own home.

“This achievement is the result of dedicated work and collaboration between our renal nursing team, consultants, home therapies services and wider colleagues and we are looking forward to expanding this offer to more patients across Tayside.”

Gayle said, “Having the machine in my own home means I’m in a comfortable environment and I can have my treatment when I want. I’m not tied to going to the hospital three-days-a-week.

“The staff have been incredibly supportive and helped me to get set up. I feel confident and have a sense of achievement following my at home treatments which is all thanks to the Home Therapies team. I really couldn’t have done this without them.”