Adult Renal Dialysis Services In The UK: A Questionnaire Survey To Examine Providers And Commissioners Approaches To This Service

Abstract

Background: In the UK, the introduction of primary care trusts, changes in commissioning for adult renal dialysis services and the development of the National Service Framework for Renal Disease has implications for dialysis services for adult renal patients. Method: To determine the number and type of adult renal dialysis services commissioned and provided a questionnaire survey was sent to all adult renal dialysis providers and commissioners of renal dialysis services. Results: Response rates were 100% for provider units and 82% for commissioners. Overall a full range of modalities was both commissioned and provided. Differences occurred between the provision and commissioning of vascular access, recombinant human erythropoietin, conservative management programmes, dedicated transport services and multidisciplinary team members. Conclusion: Considerable variation was seen between dialysis services provided and those commissioned. This variation has implications for patients and for successful delivery of UK Renal National Service Framework targets. This work was conducted in the Section of Public Health, ScHARR. The University of Sheffield, UK.