Who we are

There are four consultant transplant surgeons (Miss Amanda Knight, Mr James Yates, Mr Sam Dutta and Mr Alun Williams) who work together as a team. All are involved in:

• the assessing of patients to go onto the transplant list
• the annual review of patients on the transplant list
• performing adult and children’s kidney transplants
• looking after patients on the ward and in clinic, jointly with the nephrology team (kidney specialists), and with particular responsibility for the first six months after the transplant

In addition Mr Dutta and Mr Williams are involved in the assessment, surgery and follow-up of living kidney donors

There are two transplant nephrologists (kidney specialists with expertise in transplant), Dr Catherine Byrne and Dr Gavin McHaffie, who work with the rest of the transplant team in looking after patients in clinic, with particular responsibility after the first six months after the transplant.

All of the other kidney specialists look after any transplant patients who are in hospital at NUH on a rotational basis.

In addition Dr Linda Bisset and Dr Mark Devonald are involved, with the surgeons, in the assessment of living kidney donors.

There are three members of the pre-transplant specialist nursing team who cover for each other. Anne Theakstone and Karen Stopper are the living donor coordinators and Kate Taylor the recipient coordinator.

The living donor coordinators are involved in:

• screening and assessing potential live kidney donors
• coordinating investigations and the logistics of the live kidney donor surgery
• follow-up of live kidney donors
• providing a source of local expertise to prospective donors and their families and to other healthcare professionals

The recipient coordinator is responsible for:

• ensuring patients potentially suitable for a transplant are seen for assessment by a surgeon, are fully informed and added to the national transplant list after liaison with their kidney specialist as required.
• keeping the transplant list up to date
• contacting you when a suitable deceased donor kidney becomes available for you and coordinating the logistics of your admission and operation. The phone call may come from any one of the pre- or post-specialist nursing team.

The Pre-transplant nursing team can be contacted on 0115 969 1169 ext 59405

There are six specialist nurses (Anita Boswell, Hayley Bell, Jo Stacey, Amanda Dilley, Hilda Devassy and Adele Buttress) in the post-transplant team, supported by Sue Brown (Transplant Administrator), who are involved in:

• providing ward-based education to transplant patients prior to discharge
• providing long term care in post-transplant follow up clinics
• supporting transplant patients to write a letter of thanks to their donor

The Post-transplant nursing team can be contacted on 0115 969 1169 ext 56740

The pharmacy team help to ensure that your medicines are prescribed and dispensed correctly. Mr Ian Hogg is the lead renal pharmacist and he is assisted by Emma Green. They will review your prescription during your admission to check everything is as it should be. They can provide information about how your medicines work and how they might affect you.

Looking after what you eat and drink before and after a kidney transplant is an important part of your treatment. Renal (kidney) dietitians are here to support patients offering personalised dietary advice which may include limiting or increasing specific food or food groups, offering advice based on your kidney function and blood results, maintaining a healthy weight and keeping yourself active.

Living with kidney disease can have a significant impact on your life. Some people find it a difficult experience as they are faced with the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of a chronic illness. A clinical psychologist can help people with a range of issues including:

• coping with illness, treatment and/or side-effects of treatment

• making decisions about treatment

• self-management difficulties (e.g. taking medication, diet or fluid)

• difficulties with family or personal relationships related to having a serious illness

• problems with body image/how you feel about yourself

• feeling depressed, anxious or angry about your illness or treatment

• sexual problems resulting from your illness or treatment

• fears related to medical procedures, needles etc.

• assessing whether someone is ready to have a transplant

A clinical psychologist can help you to understand your feelings and manage these issues. This may involve different types of psychological therapy. If you feel this would help you, please speak to your nurse or kidney doctor about being referred to see our Renal Clinical Psychologist, Dr Emma Coyne.

The Renal Young Adult Service supports young adults aged 18-30 who are living with kidney conditions in Nottingham and Derby. The service supports people who are on dialysis, have had a kidney transplant and those who aren’t yet receiving any treatment. Approximately 150 young adults use the service which is run by Terri, our Young Adult Worker. She is a trained Youth Worker and offers a different way of supporting you than what you may be used to from your Doctor or Nurse.

Peer Support involves kidney patients helping other kidney patients who are facing similar situations, as no one understands what you’re going through as well as people who have gone through it themselves. It aims to give short term practical, emotional and social support to people with chronic kidney failure, transplants and failing transplants, as well as to their families or carers, based on common experiences. Peer Support offers the opportunity to have a one to one face to face or telephone conversation with an experienced patient buddy.

For any more information please contact Geoff Chambers on 0115 9691169 ext. 56411/56602.

Alternatively, please speak to your nurse or kidney doctor.