Transforming Kidney Care in the Mid West Region: Inside UHL’s Kidney Programme
At University Hospital Limerick, our multidisciplinary clinical team provides specialist care for people with kidney disease. From early diagnosis to advanced treatments, we are committed to improving the lives of our patients.
Comprehensive Kidney Care at UHL
Our specialist programme brings together consultant physicians that are specialists in kidney disease, advanced nurse practitioners, specialist nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and many other health professionals. For our patients with advanced kidney failure, we offer all forms of dialysis - both haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, ensuring they receive the best possible support.
In our centre, we also assess and prepare patients for kidney transplantation at the national transplant programme in Dublin. After a patient has received a new kidney transplant, we continue to monitor and support their recovery, helping to protect their new kidney for the long term.
A Day in the Life of Our Kidney Programme
No two days are the same in our kidney programme. We support up to 250 patients on haemodialysis, each receiving treatment three times a week. Our growing home dialysis programme allows patients to receive treatment from the comfort of home, including both peritoneal dialysis and home haemodialysis.
Our busy outpatient clinics focus on early detection and intervention, helping to protect kidney function and prevent further kidney damage. For those requiring inpatient care, our dedicated ward (8C at UHL) provides specialist treatment for the sickest patients.
Leading Research & Innovation
Our team is leading cutting-edge research and education initiatives to bring the latest treatments to our patients, improving their outcomes and quality of life. Our research team is leading out on several research studies for the prevention (nkdss.ie), that would help monitor the burden of kidney diseases, evaluate the extent of screening programmes, and assess the quality of care so that we can improve patients' lives.
Raising Awareness for World Kidney Day
Early detection is key to protecting kidney health. We are working alongside the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) to supportWorld Kidney Day on March 13, 2025to promote the early detection of kidney disease to protect long-term kidney health. It is a very simple but important message as one in 10 individuals have some form of CKD in Ireland.
Our new research study has shown that the older we get, the more common CKD is with over 1 in 7 people over the age of 75 affected. We also show CKD is very common in people with specific chronic conditions, especially heart disease (1 in 3 individuals), diabetes, and hypertension. We have also discovered that CKD is very common in patients with cancer and obesity. These are easily identifiable groups who are at high risk.
So if we can screen these high risk groups for kidney disease, then we can intervene early and provide them with early treatment to protect their long-term kidney health.
A Privilege to Care for Our Patients
As a kidney specialist, I have the privilege of caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our society and making a real difference in their lives. I work with an incredible group of individuals – nurse, doctors, pharmacists, support personnel and working collectively to make this world a better place for patients with kidney disease. Our mission is simple: “To improve their lives.”
Prof Austin Stack, Consultant Nephrologist, University Hospital Limerick