Attendance or supervision required during dialysis

Julija receives haemodialysis treatment in her local NHS hospital in Glasgow every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Julija’s sister attends her dialysis sessions with her to keep her company. At the time of reporting the change in her circumstances, Julija has had her kidney condition for four months and therefore satisfies the backwards test. The dialysis normally takes up to four hours.

A nurse sets up the dialysis and makes sure Julija is comfortable. Most days, the nurse also checks vital signs and how Julija is coping several times during treatment.

After the dialysis is completed the nurse turns off the machine and helps Julija get up. Julija is not entitled to the middle rate of the care component, as she receives her dialysis as an NHS hospital outpatient, with support from staff. The case manager does not need ask Julija’s sister to demonstrate that she or the nurse is present during her treatment to make that decision.

Yasmin is 30, receives Scottish Adult DLA, and receives dialysis at home three times per week as a result of kidney damage in a road traffic accident years earlier. Yasmin also has an acquired brain injury, and as a result she can become agitated during her treatment. When agitated, Yasmin can jump out of her seat or pull at her catheter, resulting in it becoming dislodged. This is painful for Yasmin, and interferes with her treatment, putting her at risk. Yasmin’s mother therefore sits with her in order to soothe her if she becomes distressed. The case manager decides that Yasmin is entitled to receive the middle rate of the care component, as whilst her treatment is covered by the NHS and is delivered to her as an out-patient, she receives it in her home rather than at hospital.