How many posts are available:
There are 13 posts available in the region.
Renal Medicine is a specialty that provides great variety, encompassing the management of chronic disease as well as the management of patients with acute kidney injury. A nephrologist may maintain life-long involvement in the care of a patient, from the time of their initial diagnosis, through their requirement for renal replacement therapy, through to end-of-life care.
You will gain a great breadth of experience in both renal medicine and general internal medicine – working in district general hospitals, some of which cover largely rural areas, as well as the regional tertiary unit, which incorporates the Institute of Transplantation.
Throughout the programme, you will develop an understanding of inpatient and outpatient management and the many aspects of renal medicine. This includes acute kidney injury, glomerular and interstitial diseases, chronic kidney disease and the management of kidney failure with dialysis and transplantation – and receive training to perform core procedures.
Procedures largely include the insertion and removal of dialysis lines and kidney biopsies. Some nephrologists choose to undertake additional training in procedures such as the insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheters and more invasive vascular procedures with interventional radiology overlap. There are also opportunities to choose a subspecialty, for example, in interventional nephrology, dialysis, hypertension, vasculitis, genetic renal diseases and transplantation.
Teamwork is very rewarding, and an extensive multidisciplinary team is fundamental to a functional renal service, with major reliance on dialysis nurses, technicians, dieticians, tissue typing experts, interventional radiologists and transplant and vascular surgeons.
Trainee attendance and participation at the Renal Association’s annual meetings is encouraged. Renal Association initiatives include the UK Renal Registry, a large clinical database, and the National Registry of Rare Kidney Diseases, both of which are unique resources that facilitate research as well as improve patient care.
The training programme is challenging and there is a lot to learn, but it is hugely inspiring and enjoyable.
There are 13 posts available in the region.
The James Cook University Hospital
Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW
Freeman Hospital
Freeman Road, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN
Cumberland Infirmary
Newtown Road, Carlisle, CA2 7HY
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Kayll Road, Sunderland, SR4 7TP
“To someone considering Renal Medicine, I would say that this is a specialty where you have the opportunity to really get to know your patients, whether it is on the dialysis unit or in the transplant clinic. There is always the challenge of making new diagnoses, sometimes even the rarer ones, which is always exciting.
“The types of patients I deal with are usually among the sickest in the hospital. I am regularly asked to see a patient who is very unwell.
“The deanery is filled with enthusiastic doctors, where there is good access to clinical and academic experience.
“Life in the North is varied, which allows the opportunity to choose from the hustle of city centre nightlife to spending quiet days in the nearby countryside or even to the coastal regions for some fun by the sea.”