Children's kidney and hypertension patient information

Find out what to expect when you come to hospital for your child's kidney and hypertension appointment.

Before your appointment

Certain children taking some specific medicines that require regular monitoring of blood levels (e.g. tacrolimus, mycophenilate mofetil) should not take the morning dose of their medication on the day of the appointment so that we can accurately measure blood levels. Please contact the clinic if you are not sure if this applies to your child.

Please remember to bring your child’s ‘red book’ and check your appointment letter for anything specific you have been asked to take with you. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following:

• your full address and telephone number(s)
• your appointment card and appointment letter
• your GP’s name and address
• a list of questions you may want to ask your consultant

During your appointment

Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.

At the appointment your child’s height, weight and blood pressure will be measured. A urine sample will also be collected and tested each time as part of the routine monitoring of all patients.

At the first visit a detailed medical history will be taken and your child will be examined.

If a blood test is required, these will be performed by our trained and experienced paediatric staff. Before the blood test, anaesthetising cream or spray will be applied to the appropriate area so that the blood test is painless.

After your appointment

If your child needs to be admitted to hospital for investigations we will plan and manage these to make sure the time spent in hospital is kept to a minimum and that these investigations take place on a date that is suitable for the family.