Portsmouth one of top cities for offering home dialysis to kidney patientsÂ

The service offered by Queen Alexandra Hospital, in Cosham, is above the targets set by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).

Derby is the best performing city while the only other to be above the 10 per cent recommendation is Manchester.

Nice said all patients who are suitable for home haemodialysis should be offered this choice but nationally just 4.4 per cent of patients have access.

The report, developed by NxStage in collaboration with renal health professionals, kidney patients, and charities including Kidney Care UK and the National Kidney Foundation, highlights significant disparities over patient access to the life-changing benefits possible with home haemodialysis.

It also makes urgent recommendations towards improving access across the country.

Dr Natalie Borman is care group director for renal and transplantation at the Wessex Kidney Centre based at QA Hospital. It has one of the largest home haemodialysis departments in the UK.

She said: '˜QA's programme was established in response to increasing evidence that more frequent haemodialysis is associated with improved survival, better patient outcomes and improved quality of life.

'˜It's important for patients to have the right to choose which treatment is best for them and their life.

'˜Of course, it is not right for everyone, but patients should not be excluded based on their medical conditions alone.'

NxStage's report urges healthcare professionals and the government to take action towards increasing patient access to home haemodialysis.

Recommendations include strengthened patient education programs, dedicated staff responsible for supporting home programmes, and better patient-to-patient interactions.