After your kidney transplant
The transplant operation will normally take around three hours, following an initial time in recovery patients are transferred back to Mayflower ward into a mixed-sex high dependency area (Level one) for transplant patients until discharge.
Your renal transplant whilst in hospital
Living with a temporary ureteric stent
Follow up care
As a transplant patient you will receive a detailed education programme before leaving the ward. This will include:
Self-medication
You will be taught about your new tablets. Read the Renal Transplant your new medications booklet
Outpatient clinics
Mondays and Thursdays in Main Outpatient Department, Derriford. Exeter patients are discharged back to their unit and will have clinic three times a week to begin with.
Healthy Living
Diet and lifestyle adjustments and how to look after your new kidney.
Mayflower Ward
Mayflower Ward is a 23- bedded renal ward situated on level 3, with a level one area. There are three day case rooms, six dialysis stations and a plasma exchange service. The ward cares for all types of renal patient’s, including transplant donor and recipients, patients on dialysis and those with acute and chronic renal disease. Mayflower Ward prides itself on excellent standards of care, ensuring a safe friendly environment for patients, relatives, staff and friends. For more information please contact the ward manager Amy Skelley.
View Derriford Hospital Level 3 floor map
Ward Philosophy
We aim to provide high quality care through a holistic approach, ensuring all individual needs are met in a caring and sensitive manner. Our staff have a real passion for Mayflower's speciality and will provide care of a high standard to all who stay with us. We endeavour to offer an open and friendly environment where the patient and family members can express their needs. We hope to maintain self-esteem, dignity and a sense of well-being and purpose to every individual whilst on our ward.
Ward Visiting Times
-
Mayflower visiting is 7:30am to 10pm.
-
All transplant patients can have 1 visitor per day.
-
Visitors should report to the Nurse in charge before entering the transplant bay, any visitors with respiratory symptoms will be asked not to visit. Visiting will be at the discretion of the Nurse in charge.
-
Visitors will be asked to wear an apron, gloves and masks which is the current policy for reversed barrier nursing.
Doctors’ Ward Rounds
The name of your Consultant should be written on the board above your bed. Consultants will normally see their patients at least 3 times a week (ward round). A doctor on the Consultant’s team will see you every day during the week and at the weekend. Mornings and mealtimes are the busiest time on the ward. Doctors’ ward rounds are usually completed in the mornings. It would therefore be appreciated, and hopefully more informative to you, if you could try to leave non-urgent calls until after 11am and avoid ringing during medication rounds and mealtimes.
If you wish to see a doctor to discuss your relative’s condition, please talk to the ward clerk or ring the ward to arrange an appointment.
|
Meal |
Time |
|---|---|
|
Breakfast |
8am to 9am |
|
Morning Coffee |
10.30am |
|
Lunch |
12pm to 1pm |
|
Afternoon Tea |
2.30pm |
|
Evening Meal |
5pm to 6pm |
Drinks are available at any time, please ask.
Contact Us
To contact the ward for general information please ring: (01752) 431485
To contact the haemodialysis ward area please ring: (01752) 431513
Pharmacy
After the transplant operation some of the medications patients take may change. Before discharge both the nursing staff and ward pharmacist will provide education on what to take, when to take them and why you need to take them. This will be supported with a printed sheet which includes all the medication.
Once you have been discharged you will attend regular clinics at Derriford hospital. On the day of your clinic appointment:
- Please bring a list of all of your medications with you.
- Please ensure that you don’t take your tacrolimus (Advagraf, Envarsus, Adoport or Prograf), Ciclosporin (Neoral) or Sirolimus (Rapamune) medication until you have had your morning bloods taken at the hospital.
- If you are readmitted to hospital please also bring all of your medicines with you. Unfortunately we cannot use medicines on the ward from a ‘dossette’ box, so it is more helpful if you bring medicines in original containers
How to obtain further supplies of medication leaflet
The renal dietetic service:
A renal dietitian is a dietitian specialising in kidney conditions and can offer advice and help in :
-
Protecting your kidney transplant
-
Staying well
-
Reduce the risk of developing complications
Following transplantation, a renal dietitian will see patients individually before going home. Once the new kidney is working well many of the food restrictions followed prior to transplantation can be reduced. The dietitian will discuss some of the complications which can arise from the transplant medications and how diet can help to reduce the risk of these occurring, for example:
- A weaker immune system will make individuals vulnerable to food poisoning and there are some foods which should be avoided. Good food hygiene when preparing, cooking and storing food will also help to prevent food poisoning occurring. Tips on staying well when eating out or travelling are also provided.
- A healthy diet and lifestyle will help prevent weight gain and control blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels. This will reduce the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
- Bones can become thinner, which may lead to osteoporosis. A diet rich in calcium, as well as physical activity, will help to keep bones healthy.
If there is a need to see a dietitian after discharge from hospital, this can be arranged either at Plymouth, or your local renal unit.
Read Healthy Lifestyle and Kidney Transplantation
Thanking the donor family
Writing to your donor family is often very appreciated. We understand that writing your letter, or card can be a very emotional and challenging experience. The NHS Blood and Transplant site have some very useful tips and information under the resources section
