Royal Free London Private Patients Unit: Kidney Centre of Excellence
Kidney Centre of Excellence
Our private Renal Department at the Royal Free Hospital is recognised globally as a Kidney Centre of Excellence for its highly specialised care of local, national and international patients with kidney diseases.
We offer a unique holistic approach of renal diagnostics and treatment from common to rare kidney problems, with end-to-end care.
Our pioneering works and innovation at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, has led to excellent outcomes, including drugs that have helped to treat patients with rare glomerular disorders and research that has helped patients with rare genetic kidney performing disorders.
Our patients benefit from our tradition of innovation, demonstrated by an ongoing commitment to clinical research trials.
Why choose the Royal Free London Kidney Centre of Excellence?
World Renowned Nephrologists and Surgeons
Our world-renowned nephrologists and renal surgeons work in teams that include other clinicians to review diagnostic results and treatment plans, ensuring patients receive personalised care with multiple options. We take the time to understand each patient's unique situation, including rare conditions that require specialised treatment.
The renal multidisciplinary team (MDT) benefits from robust NHS clinical governance and provides access to national and European MDT networks.
This unique model of care allows this innovation to be extended internationally including to patients from countries where treatment and medications are not available. This allows patients to access the best in British healthcare, despite international location, and access to clinical pioneering research trials and treatments.
Specialist treatment for kidney problems
As a private patient, we give you access to world-class specialists and treatments for kidney cancer, including advanced robot-assisted kidney surgery by some of the UK’s most experienced surgeons.
A kidney transplant can be life-changing option for many people who are suffering from chronic kidney disease and renal failure. Kidneys for transplant are sourced from live donors or deceased organ donors. All organs for transplant need to meet certain criteria, both in terms of the quality of the organ itself and its compatibility with the patient. Our renal transplant surgeons are the experts in their fields and are supported by a wider multidisciplinary team of specialists.
Robotic-assisted surgery is the next evolution in surgery. ‘Robots in surgery’ can be misleading as the surgeon operates the robot – it’s not a standalone robot. Robotic surgery provides a minimally invasive approach to treat complex surgical conditions. At The Royal Free, it is currently used for kidney cancer, kidney transplantation and other non-renal cancer such as bowel cancer and some liver, pancreas and gallbladder surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery, also known as keyhole or minimally invasive surgery, is a surgical technique that involves making small incisions in the abdomen to diagnose and treat conditions. We use the latest and most minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques, better known as keyhole surgery, to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions. Our particular speciality is in renal cancer treatments, but our expert team also provides care for patients with other diseases affecting the abdominal and pelvic regions.
Our expert renal medicine (nephrology) team at the Royal Free London Private Patients Unit (PPU) specialise in acute kidney injury (AKI) and rare and complex kidney conditions.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) describes impaired kidney function, not a specific disease. It might mean your kidneys are not working correctly or have a structural abnormality, or your blood results flag an issue. As there are 100s of CKD types, we personalise your diagnosis and treatment to discover why your kidneys aren’t working as they should.
When you become a private patient with us, we aim to diagnose chronic kidney disease, help you manage your condition, understand your treatment options, offer the correct treatment, and improve your quality of life.
Opened in 2013, our dialysis unit is one of the largest private dialysis units in the UK. We are dedicated to delivering the highest standards of care, comfort, and convenience. Our modern facility is equipped with the latest technology and amenities to ensure that your dialysis treatment is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Our renal surgeons performed using minimally-invasive techniques including arteriovenous fistula, central venous catheter, arteriovenous (AV) graft, and fistuloplasty. Find out more about vascular access dialysis.
Our renal MDT for rare diseases was formed in early 2023. It consists of world-renowned nephrologists, urology surgeons, transplantation surgeons, oncologists, many of whom are also leading academic experts, and leaders in their field producing significant medical research.
Our innovation combines our various strengths into an integrated pathway, allowing patients with rare diseases to be diagnosed, treated, and now supports the early diagnosis and intervention in close family members thus preventing severe disease developing. We have advanced into the realm of truly predicative preventive medicine.
For more information about renal rare disease, please contact us rf-tr.privateenquiries@nhs.net.
Check also Urine Acidification Test.
Getting Diagnosis
Various tests help us diagnose kidney conditions, including blood and imaging tests and a kidney biopsy. For example, blood tests are the primary way of diagnosing acute kidney injury. We also perform genetic tests and specialist tests unique to the Royal Free.
Our hospital offers state-of-the-art nuclear medicine investigations and radiology. We’re also renowned for interventional radiology. All our diagnostic tests are done on one site, making diagnosis quicker and easier for patients.
State of the art facilities
Our dedicated team of world class surgeons perform over 90% of kidney cancer operations at the Royal Free Hospital using the state-of-the-art Da Vinci Robotic Surgical Systems and advanced imaging technologies including nuclear medicine imaging, interventional radiology to diagnose and treat kidney disease, and complex transplantation.
Experienced nurses
Our team is a diverse range of highly skilled professionals, each an expert in their field, forming an exceptional team. With patients arriving from all corners of the world, our nurses possess the remarkable ability to accommodate their every need through patient-focused and compassionate care.
International patients
The Royal Free London Private Patients Unit has a distinguished team that focuses only on patients from Middle East region and other parts of the world. The International Patient Liaison Office is the main point of contact for the patient, the medical attachés in London, the departments within the hospital, and the consultants. We provide all necessary support to patients and their families throughout their treatment in the hospital.
Our Impact - Investing in the 
The Royal Free London Private Patients Unit is wholly owned by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and part of the NHS. We provide care to non-NHS national and international patients. All profits which our hospitals earn are reinvested into the trust to the benefit of all our patients, NHS and private. This is by supplying vital hospital equipment, funding nursing posts, supporting leading edge medical research, patient care and education. We are proud to bring the very best skills and standards of the NHS to benefit our private patients and, in doing so, support the continued development of the NHS and the Royal Free London through our success.
Contact us Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm:
Booking line: +44 (0) 20 4502 8783