Kidney patients should get more care from nurse practitioners and have dialysis closer to home

More kidney transplantations, care that is planned better, and more people having dialysis are among the priorities of England's new national clinical director for renal services.

Donal O'Donoghue, a consultant renal physician who takes up his three days a week post immediately, also wants to see more seamless care, so that patients with kidney disease do not have to see a range of different professionals for their problems in areas such as blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol concentrations.

“The appointment [of a national clinical director] is a recognition of renal services: …