Renal - My Wishes: My Kidney Care

Staff are happy to answer any questions you may have about this leaflet. Please speak to the nurses in your team who can help.

We want to provide the best possible care for all our patients and their carers. To do this we need to know more about what is important to you and what your needs and preferences are for your care.

This document is called a Care Plan and gives you the opportunity to be involved in decision making around your care needs. The Care Plan will involve having a conversation with your doctor and/or your kidney nurse to help you have your say in what is important to you and your family/carers.

The Care Plan is flexible and adaptable and will be reviewed with your changing health. It will also give you the opportunity to think ahead and can be used to help you document what it is that's important to you.

If we are aware of your thoughts and wishes, this means we can be more active in providing the care you want, in the place you want to be.

For some kidney patients, this may involve planning for the end of their life. This may be difficult to discuss and is often an emotional time for patients and their carers. However, as your kidney care team, we can help and support you and your carers with this discussion.

This Care Plan is not a 'legally binding' document. However, once your wishes are documented, these can be considered by the doctors and nurses. This is your document and as such, will always remain with you.
 
With your permission, the kidney team will keep a copy of this document so that we can ensure all team members take your wishes into account when planning your care.

You can take this document home before discussing it with a member of the kidney team. This means you can have some time to discuss your wishes with your family and friends.

You may choose not to fill in this Care Plan at the current time, this is your choice and will not affect your care in any way.

On the next page are some examples of things you may wish to discuss with the kidney team. Please feel free to write down other important issues that we have not included.

What makes me content at this time in my life?

In relation to my health, what has been happening to me recently?

What elements of care are important to me and what would I like to happen to me in the future?
 

What would I NOT want to happen in the future? Are there things that I worry about or fear happening?

Preferred place of care

If my condition deteriorates where would I most like to be cared for?

Do I have any special requests, preferences or other comments?
 

Comments or additions from other people I am close to? (Please name)

Date completed:
Those present:

Further information or help can be obtained from:

Your Kidney Nurse:
Telephone:
Email: