Although the Kidney Unit is a whole building, access to its different departments have been separated to give patients the privacy and dignity they deserve. The Haemodialysis Unit, on the top floor of the building, is accessed via a front door close to the Main Entrance drop off area. In the short-term, this entrance will have six dedicated blue badge spaces for Haemodialysis patients only. Over time new car parks will be built around the Kidney Unit, though these will be available to other patients and visitors attending the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

The Haemodialysis Unit has 46 stations and four training stations where patients who can dialyse themselves at home can benefit from more dedicated teaching of the techniques without being spread through the unit.

Staff patients and visitors are prohibited from using the Dialysis Unit, directly above, as an entrance to Ward 124. Staff, patients and visitors accessing the Kidney Unit via Main Entrance should make their way to Lower Ground 1, via either the stairs or lifts, and then into the Trent Building through the link door. Once in the Trent Building proceed along the upper floor's main corridor to the end and turn right into the Kidney unit. 

The self-contained department has a 28-bed ward (with four additional trolley's) on the ground floor, an outpatients' department and research, training and seminar rooms. Half of the beds will be in single en-suite rooms, with the rest in four-bed bays.

The nursing team support the large numbers of dialysis, transplant and Chronic Kidney Disease patients that we look after in the community, covering a population of 1.2 million people. Access is the same as Ward 124.

Renal Medicine, also known as Nephrology, deals with the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases, including Chronic kidney disease (CKD) . Our approach to CKD involves diagnosing kidney conditions with blood and urine tests, as well as different types of scans and sometimes a kidney biopsy.  We always try to improve kidney function with appropriate advice and tablet treatment where possible, or at least slow kidney damage if we can.  This often involves getting high blood pressure under good control. 

Where a marked degree of kidney damage may lead to complications such as increased cardiovascular risk, renal anaemia or CKD-related mineral and bone disorder, we can keep a look out for these and try to start corrective treatment as early as possible. Where loss of kidney function is severe we can offer renal replacement therapy by means of dialysis or transplantation, or we can help to support a conservative care approach in the community.

In addition to CKD we also treat related kidney conditions such as difficult or early-onset hypertension, nephrotic syndrome (nephrosis) and genetic (hereditary) kidney disease. University Hospitals of North Midlands provides a comprehensive nephro​logy and renal failure service for the people of North Staffordshire, South Cheshire and beyond. Our team includes: 

• Prof Simon Davies- Lead for peritoneal dialysis and clinical research
• Dr Kerry Tomlinson- Clinical lead and lead for transplantation and Stafford
• Dr Dominic de Takats- Lead for South Cheshire
• Dr Julie Wessels-Lead for haemodialysis and non-transplant immunology
• Dr Chris Thompson-Lead for Acute Kidney Injury and combined ITU consultant
• Dr Sat Reddy- Lead for Chronic Kidney Disease
• Dr Madhu Menon- Lead for IT and Hypertension
• Dr Mark Lambie- Honorary Senior Lecturer and Lead for Home Dialysis 

The Trust has an established track record of internationally recognised research in Peritoneal Dialysis - in particular peritoneal membrane function - as well as muscle function and body composition in renal failure patients.  Our team are also developing an interest in fluid management in combined heart-with-kidney failure. As a Teaching hospital affiliated with Keele University Medical School, the Trust takes part in the teaching and training of medical students, junior doctors and nephrologists.

The Trust operates a Satellite Haemodialysis Unit in Leighton Hospital (12 Stations) and County Hospital (7 Stations) with plans for further expansion in the future.

The Renal Association - www.renal.org

Or, more information about kidney disease can be found using this link:http://www.renal.org/whatwedo/InformationResources/Patients.aspx