Paediatric Nephrology

Introduction

The Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust Paediatric Nephrology Visiting Professional Programme (VPP) is designed to provide international visiting professionals with the opportunity to experience first-hand one of largest paediatric nephrology units in the UK at the Trust’s leading children’s hospital, Evelina London. The service specialises in treating the full range of acute and chronic childhood kidney conditions including nephrotic syndrome, renal vasculitis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE or lupus), hypertension including renal artery stenosis, congenital abnormalities including Posterior Urethral Valves (PUV), and renal tubular disorders. We have a large Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) clinic, and a comprehensive dialysis service including in-centre haemodialysis and home peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis. We provide lipid apheresis therapy and plasma exchange therapy. We perform around 18 kidney transplants per year. The programme offers a unique chance to be fully integrated within a service which is at the forefront of clinical activity, research and training.

The programme has been designed by our clinical leads to provide a wide-ranging development experience which enables visiting professionals to broaden their clinical expertise and learn new skills that can be transferred back to their work place. We will deliver exclusive access to observe and work alongside our paediatric nephrology faculty at Evelina London and to provide an opportunity for international professionals to gain insight into our Trust and the role that our staff play within the NHS.

Programme aims

The programme is aimed at those who wish to extend their clinical expertise in paediatric nephrology medicine within Evelina London.

The aims of the programme include:

• Experience of the NHS and working in one of the largest teaching hospitals and provider of children’s services in London, and two of the UK’s largest regional paediatric intensive care (PICU) and neonatal intensive care units (NICU)
• Exposure to a service specialising in treatments such as dialysis (both haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis), kidney transplantation, hypertension, nephrotic syndrome, and obstructive uropathy
• Direct experience during clinics and ward rounds
• Opportunities to participate in internal clinical academic meetings and educational activities
• Interaction with multidisciplinary team members within the nephrology service, including specialist psychologists, play specialists, social worker and pharmacists
• The opportunity to create networks and links for future learning and development

Individual weekly timetables will be created depending on each visiting professional’s requirements.

Format

The Paediatric Nephrology programme is delivered within the hospital work place and it includes exposure to clinics, inpatient ward rounds, and multidisciplinary team meetings, as well as outreach clinics depending on the length of programme that visitor’s request.

Visiting professionals will be aligned with supervisors from within the clinical teams who will facilitate agreed learning and development needs. We would expect visiting professionals to be totally integrated in the day to day service within our paediatric nephrology team. 

Visiting professionals may also have the opportunity to be involved in research projects during their programme.

Who can apply

This programme is intended for non-U.K. consultants and trainees with an interest in paediatric nephrology.

Visitors have the choice of applying for a hands-on attachment or observership programme. Those wishing to apply for a hands-on attachment must have GMC registration or NMC registration. You can apply for GMC registration directly through the main GMC website, alternatively The Royal College of Physicians run a medical training initiative which facilitates GMC registration and provides sponsorship for a Tier 5 visa. You can find out more about their Medical Training Initiative by visiting their website. NMC registration can be applied for via the NMC website.

Programme duration

It is recommended that in order to get the most out of the Paediatric Nephrology programme, that visiting professionals undertake a placement of at least 6 weeks. However, the programme’s duration can be tailored to the specific learning requirements of those visiting the Trust.

Paediatric Nephrology service

Evelina London Children’s Hospital Paediatric Nephrology service diagnoses and treats all kinds of children’s kidney problems.

Working together with the urology and bladder service, we care for children and young people from across the south east of England and beyond, serving over nine million people.

We are the only specialist (tertiary) referral unit in this region for children and young people with serious kidney and bladder problems and one of just 13 children’s kidney centres in the UK.

Our services include:

• nephrotic syndrome
• chronic kidney disease management
• home-based and hospital-based dialysis
• kidney transplantation
• service for children with serious bladder disorders
• hypertension service
• specialist services including vasculitis clinic, metabolic renal clinic, stone clinic, growth clinic (CKD + transplant) and outreach clinics
• Young Adult clinic

Nephrotic syndrome

We have a specialised nephrotic syndrome and glomerulonephritis clinic, led by Dr Ania Koziell, who also has a basic science research interest in nephrotic syndrome. A Clinical Nurse Specialist and a second consultant make up the team for this clinic.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

This service has expertise in the conservative management of advanced chronic kidney disease in babies, toddlers, children and teenagers. This includes the management of renal bone disease, growth and nutritional care, anaemia, and hypertension.

Dialysis

The dialysis unit at Evelina London is one of the largest in the UK and offers both home and hospital based dialysis. The unit also provides lipid apheresis and plasma exchange therapies

Transplantation

We perform an average of 18 transplants per year including small recipients (children less than 20kg at time of transplant). There is an active ABO-incompatible transplant service.

Bladder service

Our bladder service is one of the major services at Evelina London with 4 consultants specialising in the investigation and medical management of bladder disorders. A team of Clinical Nurse Specialists support the consultant staff. This group has been recognised as an international training centre, and regularly present research findings and clinical management outcomes at international meetings.

Hypertension service

The Hypertension service has expertise in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in babies, toddlers, children and teenagers. There is close collaboration with the Interventional Radiology department for diagnosis and treatment of renovascular hypertension; and with the paediatric cardiology service for echocardiographic assessments. Parents of young children are taught how to monitor the blood pressure of their children at home. There is routine use of 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement.

Specialist services

We offer multiple clinics and specialist services at Evelina London including:

• vasculitis clinic, jointly with the Paediatric Rheumatology team
• metabolic renal clinic
• stone clinic jointly with Paediatric and Adult Urology
• growth clinic jointly with Paediatric Endocrinology
• PUV clinic jointly with Paediatric Urology
• Outreach clinics throughout the southeast of England

Education

Excellence in education and training is at the heart of Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Evelina London. As part of King’s Health Partners, one of the UK’s six academic health sciences centres, and as teaching hospitals of international renown, we’re committed to developing a healthcare workforce of the highest quality.

Through our partnership with top academic institutions including King’s College London (KCL) and London South Bank University, we help to train the health professionals on whom the NHS depends.

Through our in-house training and collaboration with health and other organisations, we offer a wide range of courses, for clinical and non-clinical staff.

Example Timetable

Fees

A course fee per week will be applied; this fee excludes accommodation and travelling expenses. To find out the fee amount please email [email protected].

Please note

Clinicians are able to offer bursaries or discounted placements on an individual basis. This is at the discretion of the Directorates of GSTT and does not affect the terms and conditions of the Visiting Professional Programme agreements.