Kidney Transplant & Diabetes Research Australia, a charity of The Hospital Research Foundation Group, was proud to fund a recent morning tea to help celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the RAH’s renal Young Adult Clinic.
The clinic, which runs every two months, assists 40 young people with chronic kidney disease to transition from paediatric support to adult healthcare services.
Three young adults spoke about their experience with the clinic, while Dr Robert Carroll spoke about the clinic’s beginnings and its success in helping young adults with chronic kidney disease.
Healthcare professionals recognise that young adults aged 17 to 27 have difficulty connecting with medical professionals and are at risk of disengaging with appointments, medications and blood tests.
Renal nurses Danielle Stephenson and Hillary Styles support the young people in this ‘at risk’ group with attendance, medication compliance and pathology testing. A youth worker also attends each clinic to organise ice-breaker games such as Connect 4, Scrabble, origami and art.
Danielle said a “relaxed, non-clinical” environment creates a peer support system for attendees to connect with other young people going through similar health issues.
“One of them mentioned that when they were on dialysis prior to receiving their transplant they were surrounded by old people, but when attending the clinic, they were able to see other people their age which was a huge bonus,” she said.
