Fairlie Healthcare has launched what it says is the UK’s first haemodialysis service delivered within a care home, following a partnership with King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and support from Bromley South East London Integrated Care Board.
The service has been established at Fairlie House in West Norwood, a 45-bed specialist nursing home for people with complex neurological conditions. It was developed over more than 12 months to enable the discharge of resident David Prescod, who has end-stage renal failure and requires long-term tracheostomy and ventilation support.
Fairlie Healthcare director of clinical services Ben Payne said the initiative showed “what can be achieved when organisations work together towards a shared goal, providing truly person-centred, safe, and specialist care in the community”.
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust consultant nephrologist Kunaal Kharbanda said the model had eliminated the need for Mr Prescod to travel to hospital several times a week for dialysis treatment.
“David's case highlights what joined-up working can achieve – he now receives his dialysis treatment at home, in an environment that delivers excellent care, with a team he trusts and without the need for travel,” he said.
Community-based care
The development comes as national health policy continues to emphasise shifting care from hospitals into community settings wherever clinically appropriate. The government’s 10-Year Health Plan and NHS England’s neighbourhood health programme both identify delivering more care closer to home as a key objective for health and care services.
The service is expected to reduce demand on hospital transport and specialist clinical resources while supporting complex hospital discharges. Fairlie Healthcare said it has already installed a second dialysis machine, doubling capacity for future residents.
Mr Prescod said moving from hospital had significantly improved his quality of life, enabling him to access physiotherapy, activities and family visits more easily.
“I’m so grateful that this has been made possible for me and I hope the service will help others like me,” he said.
