Counselling should be offered to people with end-stage renal failure

Having a counsellor as a member of the multiprofessional team has made a positive contribution to the way in which people with end-stage renal failure manage their illness. This paper will show how families can be supported when someone close to them develops renal failure. A self-report questionnaire was sent to those who used the renal counselling service over a one-year period. Findings suggest that those who received a period of short-term counselling were able to cope more effectively with their illness and lifestyle changes and felt less stress as a result. The limitations of the evaluation will be discussed, however, we are not seeking to generalise our results but to describe our experience in our unit. This points to the value and necessity of having someone with the requisite skills, to offer people a place to talk about often difficult and painful emotions. In our professional opinion, all renal units should consider having a counsellor as part of an integrated approach to patient care.