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Types: Patient information leaflets
Topics: Renal
Audiences: Patients and visitors
This service is free and available to patients under the care of the renal department. We support family members, carers, and partners of renal patients if their worries are in connection with living or caring for someone who has a renal condition. The service is provided by a psychologist, counsellor or psychotherapist. The information on this page is available as a more detailed leaflet which you can print.
Why psychological support may be helpful
Having kidney failure, or caring for someone with kidney failure, can bring about a mixture of feelings including sadness, anger and anxiety. These feelings are common but can be hard to cope with at times. We offer a range of psychological therapies to help you to work out how to deal with difficult thoughts and feelings and to make positive changes. This includes:
- adjusting to life on dialysis or with a transplant
- managing treatment regimes
- phobia of needles
- coming to terms with your diagnosis
- difficulty coping with the uncertainty about your health and future treatment or if you live or care for someone with a renal condition
- feeling worried about an upcoming medical procedure
How to make an appointment
Please speak to a member of the renal team. You can also self-refer by emailing rps.enh-tr@nhs.net or call 01438 284 957 and leave a message. We aim to arrange appointments within two weeks of receiving a referral.
Appointments are held Monday – Friday, 9:30am to 3:30pm in person, by telephone or video. It may be possible to make appointments outside of these hours. We are based at the Renal Unit at the Lister Hospital and can also come to the haemodialysis satellite units and / or offer support via telephone and video.
If you are unable to attend please leave a message on 01438 284 957. We will call you back as soon as we can to arrange an alternative appointment.
Helpful resources
The Samaritans
Support by phone. Call free on 116 123 anytime
Hertfordshire MIND Network
Information on the services available support positive mental health and wellbeing. Call 020 3727 3600.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Mental health support for men via website, helpline and web chat. Call free on 0800 58 58 58. Lines open 5pm until midnight.
Insight Timer App
Free meditation and yoga app to help with sleep, anxiety and stress. Also includes music and talks.
SHOUT 85258
24/7 UK text messaging service for people who feel they need immediate emotional support, but don’t want to speak via the telephone. Text 85258
Stay Alive App
A UK app offering support for those affected by thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who you feel may be at risk of having suicidal thoughts.
The Silver Line
Free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people. Open 24 hours a day. Call 0800 4 70 80 90.
