Renal Medicine | Auckland | Te Toka Tumai

If you have an urgent problem requiring immediate renal assessment you are referred acutely to the Renal Department where you will initially be seen by the Registrar (trainee specialist) who will decide whether you need to be admitted to hospital. Investigations will be performed as required, and the more senior members of the team involved where necessary.

If the problem is not urgent, the GP will write a letter to the Renal Department requesting an appointment in the outpatient clinic.

Most renal outpatient clinics are held at Greenlane Clinical Centre, but a small number are held at Auckland City Hospital and some follow-up clinics are held in community settings.

One of the consultant nephrologists (kidney doctors) working in the Department reviews these letters to determine who should be seen first, based on the information provided by the GP. Very urgent cases are usually seen within a couple of weeks, but other cases may have to wait a longer time. Sometimes the nephrologist will contact your GP to discuss your case and give advice rather than arranging a clinic appointment.

When you come to the Renal Outpatient Department you will be seen by a member of the renal team who will ask questions about your illness and examine you to try to determine or confirm the diagnosis. This process may also require a number of tests (e.g. blood tests, x-rays, scans etc). Sometimes this can all be done during one clinic visit, but for some conditions this will take several follow-up appointments. Occasionally some tests are arranged even before you are seen at the hospital to try to speed up the process.

Once a diagnosis has been made, the medical staff will discuss treatment with you. They will write to your GP with advice and may or may not arrange for you to attend a follow-up clinic.

You will receive a copy of the letter to your GP.

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