- Braun Avitum has become the exclusive UK distributor for Physidia, the French-based manufacturer of a dedicated home dialysis machine, in a move which should help improve the quality of life and independence of many more patients.
The collaboration will support the growth of home dialysis in the UK – an option currently only available to four per cent of renal replacement therapy patients. A national report for the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme recommends home dialysis is offered to a minimum of 20 per cent of all suitable patients in every renal centre by 2024.
B. Braun Avitum has been providing a fully-managed home haemodialysis service for more than ten years and currently delivers products and patient services to NHS patients across the UK using its Dialog+ machine which is conventionally used in renal units.
Physidia was established in 2010 in France and now has a presence in 15 European countries, providing frequent home haemodialysis to nearly 800 patients on its innovative, portable self-convective S3 monitor.
B. Braun Avitum, a division of leading healthcare solutions firm B. Braun Medical Ltd, currently works with 16 hospitals across the UK, but hopes to significantly increase its presence with the Physidia partnership.
Jane Doherty, Business Development Manager for Home Haemodialysis (HHD) Services at B. Braun Avitum, said: “Our focus is on creating value for our customers, and the Avitum and Physidia partnership will allow us to grow the HHD market by offering a two-pronged approach.”
“The combination of the B. Braun UK experience, infrastructure, resources and current home haemodialysis offering with the addition of the innovative Physidia frequent HHD offering, will provide choice and full service support for UK trusts wishing to grow the HHD programme.”
“This is an exciting opportunity for us and now allows us to give more choice and flexibility to our NHS customers and patients. The new technology will enable more patients to perform their haemodialysis at home, which offers major benefits for the majority of patients who feel so much better physically, emotionally and socially. Because they can dialyse more frequently at home their diet and lifestyle is much less restrictive.”
Jane added: “This dual approach offers us wider access to the market and will help us to meet the GIRFT initiative. It presents a really great opportunity to offer full flexibility to our customers and patients.”
