News News Peer Support National Peer Support Service The NKF peer support service is a free support service aimed to support people who: Would you like someone to talk to regarding the options of dialysis at home Or are you on home dialysis and would like further support Or would you like to talk about shared dialysis care The UK wide national service offers an opportunity for patients to have a one-to-one chat about home dialysis queries, shared dialysis care, similar life experiences and lifestyle stories with fully trained peer supporters. Patients can be matched with a peer supporter who have experienced home dialysis or shared dialysis care themselves or are a carer.Covering the whole of the UK, our peer supporters are available to give support over the phone, through Zoom and face-to-face discussions, depending on location. Making a request for peer support You or a health care provider can request peer support. Please check out our patient referral form here once you have submitted the form, the form will be sent to our Helpline. The NKF have produced a booklet all about our peer support service and you can read that if you Click here Myth Busting Home Dialysis : Information from Baxter Healthcare Ltd Download this PDF Here are some of our peer supporters .... Heather Hi, I'm Heather, Mum to 8 children, Nana, and one of the two founders of Kidney Disease And Renal Support (K.D.A.R.S For Kids) a support group for families with babies, toddlers and young people who are living with CKD and renal issues. Alex I have spent time on PD and HD as a child, with the support of my parents before receiving a transplant in 2013. When I lost the transplant in 2020, I managed my own PD for a couple of years, before switching over to HD again. I am currently on HD, which I fit in around also being a student at university. Nick I was first diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease in 2008. My kidneys failed in 2021 and I went onto the Transplant list. I did manual peritoneal dialysis for seven months before getting the call in August 22 and successful Transplant. When my kidneys first failed, I found the peer supporters advice and help really supportive. Practical tips from those who had been through it. Chatting with them helped me to decide that manual dialysis was for me for the freedom it gave me. I enjoyed the freedom of being able to dialyse where I wanted and was able to carry on working full-time as well as activities with my family. Joyce I was diagnosed with CKD at 18 years old in 1981, 5 days before starting dialysis. I was on limited care HD for 9 years before my first transplant. I did 3 years in centre followed by 3 years nocturnal home HD before my second transplant. Being at home allowed me to continue working and travelling because I had more control over when I dialysed. I was also my husband’s main carer for 2½ years when he was on APD. Patricia I have been a kidney patient since 2010. I did peritoneal dialysis (PD) until I received a kidney in 2014. Sadly that kidney failed in 2020. I chose to do PD again until November last year when I received a new kidney. Gill I carried out peritoneal dialysis at home before having a kidney transplant. The training given and ongoing support was excellent and gave me the skills and confidence that I needed. Most of the time I dialyse overnight attached to an APD (automated peritoneal dialysis) machine which gave me more freedom during the day. If I wanted to go away for a couple of days I would dialyse during the day. It just meant taking some bags of fluid with me and working the dialysis around my days’ activities. It was empowering to be in control of my own treatment in this way. Peggy My name is Peggy and I helped my husband with haemodialysis at home for 9 years. Jenni I was diagnosed with CKD in 1990 aged 20. I am currently doing in center dialysis but have previous experience with Home Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis. I have 31 years experience living with CKD. Kasonde I have been living with chronic kidney disease for over 20 years. I am dialysing from home, second time round after enjoying 14 years with my transplant “Naomi”.I am still on haemodialysis, now dialysing at night, happily and handily because I work. Caroline Hi I’m Caroline living in Northern Ireland. I have been a kidney patient for over 6 years, 2 years in unit / hospital dialysis and 4 years at home. Ali I’m Ali and I’ve been a kidney patient for 25 years. I spent three years on dialysis during which time I did peritoneal dialysis (both APD and CAPD), in-centre haemodialysis and home haemodialysis. I was lucky enough to receive my kidney transplant in January 2023. Joyce Hi I’m Joyce and my son Blair is on home dialysis. I have been fully trained to help with his home dialysis. He has been a kidney patient for over 12 years. Chris Retired, living in Torquay with my wife, Jenny. I began dialysis in May 2020 and moved to home haemodialysis in March 2021, not a moment too soon, as I was much fitter on HDD. I was lucky enough to receive a transplant in October 22 - new difficulties to deal with, but much more personal freedom available. Ros I am Ros and have supported my husband on PD and subsequently Home HD and also my brother who was on PD for the last 5 years of his life. Brian I was 'Dialysis Nurse' for my wife for 14 years of home haemodialysis. Great responsibility, but very rewarding. Tarsem I was briefly dialysing at home, then in Clinic, I have had a 2nd Kidney Transplant 3 years ago. I am very passionate about supporting about kidney patients & their families. Jeff I had one year on hospital dialysis and 5 years home dialysis. I had a kidney transplant in November 2021. Jackie I am currently a Home Haemo dialysis patient ( with the help of my lovely husband ) of six and a half years plus years on a NxStage machine. Dana I have been a kidney patient for 11 years with IGNa doing dialysis for 18 months with the last year spent doing on home HD. John I have been on haemodialysis for 4 years, 3 of them at home. It has been very successful, the support from the home dialysis team has been a great support when needed. Learn more... Home Dialysis & Shared Care Resource Centre If you would like someone to talk to and explore the options of dialysis at home, or have just started home dialysis and would like further support, the NKF Peer Support Service is here for you. The NKF FREE-Phone Helpline is available Monday to Thursday 08:30 am - 5:00 pm Friday 8.30 am – 12.30 pm on 0800 169 09 36 or email [email protected] The NKF National Peer Support service is recognised as a designated provision by Diaverum, and Fresenius Medical Care. Thank you to the generosity of The National Lottery Community Fund for their funding of the NKF Peer Support Service. Manage Cookie Preferences