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Warning as thousands die from 'avoidable' kidney problems
At least 1,000 hospital patients in England die each month from avoidable kidney problems, according to a new study commissioned by the NHS.
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Kidney patient: 'Nobody seemed terribly concerned'
A woman who developed severe dehydration after suffering a urine infection in hospital says doctors and nurses failed to spot clear signs she was unwell.
Maura Murray said that despite showing "classic symptoms" of dehydration, "nobody seemed terribly concerned" at her condition, which eventually led to life-threatening loss of kidney function.
Doctors 'must be more vigilant' on kidney failure
One of the authors of a report into deaths from Acute Kidney Injury has said hospital staff must be "more vigilant" about ensuring patients are properly hydrated.
Dr Donal O'Donoghue's research suggests as many as 1,000 patients a week are dying in the NHS from avoidable kidney problems.
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Hospital kidney deaths 'unacceptable', says doctor
The co-author of a study that found 1,000 hospital patients were dying from 'avoidable' kidney problems has described the findings as "unacceptable".
"Good basic care would save these lives and save millions of pounds for the NHS," said Professor Donal O'Donoghue, consultant renal physician at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.
Doctors and nurses need to make "elementary checks" to prevent [acute kidney injury], Dr O'Donoghue said.
"They also need to be aware that some common medications increase the risk of AKI."
A spokesman for NHS England said: "We have taken steps to ensure the NHS puts in place coherent long-term plans to reduce avoidable deaths in our hospitals, and to improve the way data is used in decision making."
Thousands die from 'avoidable' kidney problems
At least 1,000 hospital patients in England die each month from avoidable kidney problems, according to a new study commissioned by the NHS.
Researchers found that acute kidney injury (AKI) causes between 15,000 and 40,000 excess deaths every year.
The condition refers to a loss of kidney function and can develop very quickly. It can occur in people who are already ill with conditions such as heart failure or diabetes, and those admitted to hospital with infections.
AKI can also develop after major surgery, such as some kinds of heart surgery, because the kidneys can be deprived of normal blood flow during the procedure.
AKI costs the health service over £1 billion every year and is responsible for nearly eight times as many deaths as superbug MRSA at its peak, according to a study commissioned by NHS Improving Quality.