B. Braun Avitum has become the exclusive UK distributor for Physidia, a France-based manufacturer of a dedicated home dialysis machine, in a move that the company says should help improve the quality of life and independence of many more patients.
This collaboration will support the growth of home dialysis in the UK—an option currently only available to 4% of renal replacement therapy (RRT) patients, according to a B. Braun Avitum press release. In addition, the UK Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) national report on renal medicine recommends home dialysis is offered to a minimum of 20% of all suitable patients in every renal centre by 2024.
B. Braun Avitum has been providing a fully managed home haemodialysis (HHD) service for more than 10 years, and currently delivers products and patient services to National Health Service (NHS) patients across the UK using its Dialog+ machine—which is conventionally used in renal units—the release adds.
Physidia was established in 2010 and now has a presence in 15 European countries, including France, Spain and Belgium, providing frequent HHD to nearly 800 patients on its innovative, portable, self-convective S3 monitor. B. Braun Avitum currently works with 16 hospitals across the UK and, by partnering with Physidia, hopes to “significantly increase its presence” moving forward.
Jane Doherty, business development manager for 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 HHD 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.
“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.”
