Newcastle University Graduates First Kidney Course Cohort
Newcastle University celebrated the graduation of its first cohort from a specialized kidney course. The program is designed to increase expertise in nephrology and related fields. This milestone in local medical education aims to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in kidney care.
- The course, a Postgraduate Certificate in Interventional Nephrology, is a collaboration with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) and was conceived and developed by Dr. Shalabh Srivastava, a Consultant Interventional Nephrologist at the Trust. - This is the first and only university-accredited course of its kind in the world, designed to address inconsistent and inadequate procedural training for renal specialists in the UK. - Graduates are trained in procedures like ultrasound, haemodialysis access management, and renal biopsies, skills traditionally held by radiologists or surgeons, which can lead to fragmented care and longer waiting times for patients. - The program aims to tackle a global shortage of kidney specialists; in the UK, the number of nephrologists is at the lower end among European nations, with fill rates for training posts falling from 100% in 2013 to 74% in 2017. - This specialty is crucial as over 10% of the UK population is affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), with diagnoses expected to rise due to an aging population and increasing risk factors like diabetes and hypertension. - The first cohort consisted of five doctors, and due to its success, the program has since recruited two more intakes with a maximum of 10 students each, including doctors who have relocated from countries like Malaysia and Saudi Arabia to attend. - The average wait for a deceased donor kidney transplant in the UK is 2-3 years, and the waiting list has grown to its highest point in a decade, underscoring the need for specialists who can manage complex patient care and dialysis access. - The course is taught at Sunderland Royal Hospital's Renal Unit and provides a basis for a future Master's degree, with discussions for future healthcare partnerships underway in Malaysia, India, and Tanzania.
