Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
I am on dialysis - am I at risk?
It is thought that you are at increased risk of severe illness and it is very important that you are particularly stringent in following the social distancing measures. Your dialysis centre will work with you to ensure you get your treatment. You will still get your dialysis; you may be asked to come in at a different time and some people may be asked to do two sessions a week rather than three, provided it is considered to be safe for you do so.
If the gaps between sessions are longer it is extra important to watch your fluid and diet, avoiding high potassium food. If you’re looking for some kidney-friendly recipes.
I am on dialysis - do the new guidelines regarding self-isolation/shielding affect?
If you are on dialysis you are at a high risk of having serious illness from COVID-19 and you should continue to stringently follow the official social distancing guidelines and restrictions on movement. You may well have received a text to advise you to self-isolate but do not wait for the text or letter to do so. Of course, you should continue to go to dialysis.
How will I get to dialysis?
You will still get to dialysis unit/centre in your normal way unless advised otherwise. In these unprecedented times, providing transport to and from dialysis is a particular challenge. Some of the patient transport services may be disrupted as pressure on transport services increases. If it is possible (without exposing them to COVID-19) for a member of your household, family member or friend to take you to dialysis that could reduce some of this pressure. Units and centres will, of course, continue to provide transport where essential. But if even a small proportion of people who usually travel with hospital transport can find alternative transport that will make a huge difference.
I am on home dialysis - what should I be doing?
If you are on home dialysis, haemo or PD, you should follow the guidance on self-isolation. Arrangements for deliveries of home haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis supplies should continue as usual, although you may be asked to hold more boxes of kit or fluids. If you are on peritoneal dialysis and have frequent blood tests, you may need to make some changes such as having your tests locally rather than going to the hospital.
