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Renal Services | Waitematā

Public Service, Nephrology

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Description

Please Note:  The Waitematā DHB Renal Service is located at 122 Shakespeare Road. Please click here for a location map.

What is Renal Medicine?
Renal medicine, or nephrology, is the branch of medicine that involves the diagnosis and management of people with diseases and conditions of the kidneys.

Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, found at the back of your abdominal cavity, that filter out wastes and excess fluid from your blood and excrete them as urine.

Renal medicine includes the urgent care of acutely ill patients as well as those with chronic illness who require long term care. A doctor who specialises in disorders of the kidneys is called a nephrologist. Conditions seen by a nephrologist may include:

  • Acute renal failure – the sudden loss of kidney function
  • Chronic, or long term, renal failure – gradual worsening of kidney function
  • Haematuria – blood loss in the urine
  • Proteinuria – protein loss in the urine
  • Kidney stones
  • Chronic or frequent urinary tract infections
  • Hypertension – that has not responded to antihypertensive therapy.

Many kidney disorders can be treated with medications but if kidney function starts to fail and the condition becomes severe, dialysis (using a machine to filter the blood) and later, kidney transplantation, may be required.

Consultants

Note: Please note below that some people are not available at all locations.

  • Dr Naveed Ahmed

    Consultant Nephrologist, Clinical Director

    Available at North Shore Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga North), 132 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, Auckland, Community Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga O Te Raki), 96 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland, 122 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, Auckland

  • Dr Janak De Zoysa

    Consultant Nephrologist, Associate Professor

    Available at North Shore Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga North), 132 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, Auckland, Community Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga O Te Raki), 96 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland, 122 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, Auckland

  • Dr Emad Maher

    Consultant Nephrologist

    Available at all locations.

  • Dr Joanne O'Riordan

    Consultant Nephrologist

    Available at North Shore Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga North), 132 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, Auckland, Community Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga O Te Raki), 96 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland, 122 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, Auckland

  • Dr Andrew Salmon

    Consultant Nephrologist

    Available at Community Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga O Te Raki), 96 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland, Waitakere Dialysis Unit (Tatari Oranga West), Hospital Campus of Waitakere Hospital, 122 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, Auckland

  • Dr Sajed Valappil

    Consultant Nephrologist

    Available at North Shore Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga North), 132 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, Auckland, Community Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga O Te Raki), 96 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland, 122 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, Auckland

Ages

Adult / Pakeke, Older adult / Kaumātua

How do I access this service?

Referral

A referral from your GP is required

Hours

Mon 7:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Tue 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Wed 7:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Thu 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Fri 7:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Sat 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM

North Shore Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga North).
Located at 132 Shakespeare Road, on North Shore Hospital grounds. The unit operates 6 days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 07:00 to 23:30, and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 07:00 to 19:30. It has 24 dialysis stations providing dialysis therapy for 96 patients/week. All acute dialysis sessions as well as plasma exchange are performed in this unit. The unit provides haemodialysis for patients unable to perform their own dialysis.


Community Dialysis Centre (Tatari Oranga O Te Raki)
Located at 96 Apollo Drive. The unit operates 6 days a week, Monday-Saturday, 07:00-19:30. It has 18 dialysis stations providing dialysis therapy for up to 72 patients/week. It provides chronic haemodialysis treatments to dependant or assisted care patients.


This Community Dialysis Centre also has the Peritoneal Dialysis and Home Haemodialysis units. The Peritoneal Dialysis unit provides training and support for patient on peritoneal dialysis. The Home Haemodialysis unit provide training and support for patient on home haemodialysis and has a respite flat.

Waitakere Dialysis Unit (Tatari Oranga West)
Located on the grounds of Waitakere Hospital. The unit operated 6 days, Monday-Saturday, 07:00-19:30. It has 12 dialysis stations providing haemodialysis therapy for up to 48 patients/week and provides chronic haemodialysis to patients who are able to do their own dialysis (assisted care). No acute haemodialysis is provided at the unit.

Common Conditions

Kidney Failure

This is when a patient’s kidneys are unable to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Kidney failure is divided into two general categories, acute and chronic. Acute kidney failure occurs suddenly and may be the result of injury, loss of large amounts of blood, drugs or poisons. Kidneys may return to normal function if they are not too badly damaged. Chronic renal failure means kidney function has slowly worsened over a number of years and often the kidneys do not get better. When chronic renal failure has progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD), it is considered irreversible or unable to be cured. Renal replacement therapy Renal replacement therapy is a treatment that removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood when patients’ kidneys are not able to do it on their own. It comes in a number of forms, both continuous and intermittent, involving filtration and dialysis. In acute renal failure, the dialysis may only be needed for a few days or weeks while the kidneys recover. In some cases long-term dialysis and/or a kidney transplant may be needed.

This is when a patient’s kidneys are unable to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Kidney failure is divided into two general categories, acute and chronic. 
 
Acute kidney failure occurs suddenly and may be the result of injury, loss of large amounts of blood, drugs or poisons. Kidneys may return to normal function if they are not too badly damaged.
 
Chronic renal failure means kidney function has slowly worsened over a number of years and often the kidneys do not get better. When chronic renal failure has progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD), it is considered irreversible or unable to be cured.
 
Renal replacement therapy
Renal replacement therapy is a treatment that removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood when patients’ kidneys are not able to do it on their own. It comes in a number of forms, both continuous and intermittent, involving filtration and dialysis.  In acute renal failure, the dialysis may only be needed for a few days or weeks while the kidneys recover. In some cases long-term dialysis and/or a kidney transplant may be needed.
Haematuria

This term means blood in the urine and may be the result of inflammation or other problems with your kidneys, blockages in your ureter, infection or other problems with your bladder or problems with your prostate.

This term means blood in the urine and may be the result of inflammation or other problems with your kidneys, blockages in your ureter, infection or other problems with your bladder or problems with your prostate.
Proteinuria

This term means protein in the urine and may indicate that there is a problem with your kidneys.

This term means protein in the urine and may indicate that there is a problem with your kidneys.
Kidney Stones

This term refers to stones in the urinary system. They form in the kidneys but can be found anywhere in the urinary system. They vary in size and the amount of pain they cause. Many of these stones can pass though without help but some require intervention. Surgical intervention for kidney stones is provided by the Urology service. Recurrent kidney stones may require further evaluation and management to reduce these episodes. The Waitematā District Renal service provides medical and dietary support for such patients.

This term refers to stones in the urinary system. They form in the kidneys but can be found anywhere in the urinary system. They vary in size and the amount of pain they cause. Many of these stones can pass though without help but some require intervention. Surgical intervention for kidney stones is provided by the Urology service. Recurrent kidney stones may require further evaluation and management to reduce these episodes. The Waitematā District Renal service provides medical and dietary support for such patients.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

A UTI is caused by an infection in the urinary tract. Women get UTIs more often than men. UTIs are treated with antibiotics. Drinking lots of water also helps by flushing out the bacteria. If the infection is in the kidneys it is called pyelonephritis.

A UTI is caused by an infection in the urinary tract. Women get UTIs more often than men. UTIs are treated with antibiotics. Drinking lots of water also helps by flushing out the bacteria.
 
If the infection is in the kidneys it is called pyelonephritis.
Anaemia
Hypertension

The Waitematā District Renal Service has a specialist hypertension clinic. We offer 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, comprehensive investigations for secondary causes of hypertension and patient education through the Hypertension clinic. Referrals are welcomed for patients in the following categories: • Difficult or resistant hypertension (blood pressure remains elevated on 3 drugs at maximum tolerated doses) • Suspected secondary cause of hypertension • Uncertain diagnosis of hypertension in young people • Multiple antihypertensive drug intolerances

The Waitematā District Renal Service has a specialist hypertension clinic. We offer 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, comprehensive investigations for secondary causes of hypertension and patient education through the Hypertension clinic.

Referrals are welcomed for patients in the following categories:

Difficult or resistant hypertension (blood pressure remains elevated on 3 drugs at maximum tolerated doses)

• Suspected secondary cause of hypertension

• Uncertain diagnosis of hypertension in young people

• Multiple antihypertensive drug intolerances

Document Downloads

Other

Janine Mathews
Janine is the Renal Transplant Clinical Nurse Specialist. Renal transplants for Waitematā residents will still be carried out at Auckland Hospital, but the Waitematā Renal Service will care for these transplant recipients pre- and post-operatively. Janine is responsible for all recipient evaluations and renal transplant patients who live in the North. Janine runs nurse led clinics to provide education for patients and their families about transplantation and to provide long-term follow up for renal transplant recipients. 
Phone: 021 244 8069
Email:

Mary Baker
Mary is the Renal Clinical Nurse Specialist. She works with patients who live in the North who do not yet need renal replacement therapy, but may do in the future. She will provide information and education to patients and their families for options of renal replacement therapy. Mary also looks after patients who need intravenous medications to modulate and regulate the immune system.
Phone: 021 416 043
Email:       

Lyndsie Skelton
Lyndsie is the Renal Clinical Nurse Specialist based in West Auckland. She is responsible for renal transplant patients based in the West. She also provides information and education for patients and their families for options of renal replacement therapy in the West. Lyndsie also has expertise in supportive care.
Phone: 021 242 9745
Email:

Chao Cheng
Chao is the Hypertension Clinical Nurse Specialist. She works with patients who have difficult to control blood pressure. She will provide information and education to patients and their families for options of renal replacement therapy. Chao also coordinates the creation of the access required for dialysis. 
Phone: 021 221 1979
Email:   

Danica Zialcita                                                                                                        
Danica is the Clinical Nurse Specialist. She works with inpatients to co-ordinate their care.
Phone: 021417351
Email:

Michelle Elima
Is the Donor Liaison Coordinator. She works with people considering donating a kidney.
Phone: 021 348 588
Email:                    

Contact Details

This page was last updated at 2:08PM on December 4, 2023. This information is reviewed and edited by Renal Services | Waitematā.