Commentary: Supporting Patient Independence in Long Term Haemodialysis

Around 20 000 people in the UK are dependent on dialysis. It’s a demanding procedure, usually taking three to four hours, three times a week. Unsurprisingly, it disrupts people’s lives and can have a major effect on their wellbeing. Historically, there has been little opportunity for people to play an active part in managing their care, and patients often experience treatment as inflexible, demotivating, and disempowering. We observed this in our dialysis unit and also saw people who we knew were capable of taking care of themselves. This led us to introduce a programme of shared care for haemodialysis patients across the Yorkshire and the Humber region in 2010, with support from the Health Foundation. The programme is based on fostering a new partnership with patients and supporting them to take on components of their dialysis treatment. Patients choose which tasks they want to take on and the pace at which they do so. This allows them to be in control and build confidence over time. The programme adapts to a range of learning styles and …