Dad has kidney failure - best hospital in London?

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My dad went into his local hospital last week diagnosed with acute kidney failure (he has chronic kidney failure as well). He went to A&E and was extremely ill - critical - but has improved a little over the past few days. He is still very ill though. Trouble is I don't trust his local hospital. They don't have a kidney specialist on site plus my mother died in there a few years ago and I wasn't happy with the care she received then either. Does anyone know if it's possible to get someone transferred (within NHS although dad does also have private health insurance) if they're as ill as he is and how would you go about doing this? We're in London area. Thanks for help. I'm so worried about him and really want to get him the best possible care.

A transfer within the NHS will be nigh on impossible unless he needs to go to a specialist treatment unit. It might be wort exploring what his ph insurance covers....

Thanks. That's what I feared. I'm looking at his ph insurance now and it seems quite comprehensive. Does anyone know anything about treatment for kidney failure in London? Which might be the best hospitals to go for? Thanks again.

there is a specialist kidney centre at the royal london, but you need a referal
www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/renal/about_us.asp

this man is the specialist at guys & st thomas
www.dgoldsmith.co.uk/
again i would guess you would need a gp referal to see him

Hi - first post here so forgive me if I don't get abbreviations etc.

I know the renal unit at Guys hospital very well and it is (IMO) one of the best. I also know Dr Goldsmith (as mentioned in the post before)and he is an excellent renal Dr.

It is possible to be transferred hospital to hospital but you may have to fight for it. Remember it's all about patient choice now.

Is your Dad still in hospital? Anywhere near Guys (at London Bridge)? If still in hospital try asking his doctor there to contact the renal unit (now called kidney unit) directly.

Hope that helps.

The hospital web site has never been updated for the renal dept but it is within the same directorate as the urology dept and they state:

"Referrals are accepted from GPs and other hospital consultants. Apart from our local catchment area of Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham, we also accept tertiary referrals from all over the UK for some of the sub-specialist services we provide."

I'm sure it is the same for renal.

Thanks for all the help. I've spoken to his health insurers this morning and it looks like as long as he can get a consultant to agree to take him he can be transferred. Now I need to talk to his local hospital who have to provide a medical report. He has other underlying illnesses as well as the kidney problem so this might not be so easy but thanks again for all the advice.

Sadly many people with renal problems have other underlying illnesses too - they will be used to that.

Good luck.

I have had it twice I live in Brighton now but when in London I had Dr M Bending at St Helier Hospital in Sutton He was brilliant x

My Dad had a liver transplant at Kings College in 2004 and they were fantastic. They also have a renal unit -here