Nephrology service in Manchester

Nephrology is a specialist area of medicine involved in diagnosing and treating diseases of the kidneys. A doctor who specialises in this area is a Consultant Nephrologist.

As blood is pumped around your body, it is filtered by the kidneys which remove waste and excess water to form urine.

Despite their size (each kidney is about the size of a fist), the filtration surface area of the kidneys is roughly the size of a professional football field!

Kidneys can be damaged by:

• Acute injury
• Diabetes
• Raised blood pressure
• Vascular disease
• Inflammatory disease
• Certain medicines

While you don’t need perfect kidney function to be healthy and active, anything that causes the kidneys to stop working properly can have a significant effect on your health, energy levels and quality of life.

It is estimated that 15% of the adult population have some degree of kidney disease, this number increasing to 45% for people aged 75 and over.

Kidney disease is often silent in the early stages, only causing symptoms in its more advanced stages. Common symptoms of advanced kidney disease include:

• Passing urine at night more frequently
• Fatigue
• Anaemia
• Fluid retention
• Itching
• Bone pain

Earlier stages of kidney disease may be identified on a blood test, which may be done for some other reason or by a simple dipstick test of the urine.

Unfortunately, it can be quite easy to dismiss the symptoms of kidney disease, with many people thinking they’re just a bit under the weather or that it must be a natural part of ageing.

Many kidney diseases cannot be cured, but treatments are available to help manage your symptoms and to prevent further damage to the kidneys. Depending on severity, treatment may be by:

• Medication
• Dialysis – either haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, to filter waste from the blood when the kidneys are no longer able to effectively do so
• Kidney transplant

If you have any symptoms that are concerning you, it is sensible to see an expert in kidney health.

When you visit Alexandra Hospital in Manchester, you will benefit from:

• Fast access to a kidney specialist – our Consultant Nephrologists are experts in kidney health and will ensure you receive the best treatment and guidance for your particular symptoms and conditions, without delay.
• Consultant-led care, always – Every aspect of your care, from initial assessment through to treatment and post-treatment follow-up is overseen by your consultant and is always carefully tailored to your needs.
• A team of specialists – Your consultant works closely with specialists in other fields, like radiology, urology and haematology. Fast, easy access to a large multidisciplinary team at the hospital (including 600+ consultants alone) ensures you will always see the most appropriate person for your condition.
• Convenient appointments – Nephrology appointments can easily be booked online or by telephone. We can also offer remote consultations by telephone or video call if required (and where clinically appropriate).

For peace of mind and known expert care, why not book your consultation online today?