Remote kidney care: New and emerging opportunities for quality improvement: Tahira Mir
Strategies to Optimise Remote Kidney Care.
Tahira Mir
Tahira was joined by Fiona Loud from Kidney Care UK in the breakout room, where delegates could find out about how to access support for this type of role.
Tahira Mir, Cultural and Health Improvement Officer, Bradford Teaching Hospital with Fiona Loud, Policy Director, Kidney Care UK
When she first came into post, Tahira’s role was funded by Kidney Care UK.
Tahira described her role of providing care to BAME patients and their families during the main session. She said that she became interested in working with the NHS following from her work in immigration and caring for a sick relative.
Tahira said that part of her role has been to support clinical staff on cultural understanding – for example, some women may not feel comfortable shaking hands with a male clinician, and some may avoid eye contact. It is important to treat all patients with dignity and respect in order to gain trust.
Tahira is, as far as she is aware, the only person in England doing this role in a kidney setting. She is keen to share the learning so that other trusts might be able to access similar support. The report she wrote at the end of her sponsored support in order to gain funding from the Trust is available here.
Fiona informed the group that Kidney Care UK holds two grant meetings per year, and they are keen to develop and support these posts. More information is available here: https://www.kidneycareuk.org/contact-us/
A delegate asked Tahira – how can Trusts support BAME communities better? She replied that cultural awareness teaching can help – clinicians should be open, friendly and approachable – and take time to listen to patients and their families. They should read and research different cultures, and get to know the patient as an individual, as well and understanding family dynamics.
Tahira would be happy to share her experience of providing care to our BAME / all our renal patients and their families with other Trusts, and can be contacted here: Tahira.Mir@bthft.nhs.uk
Tahira Mir is the Cultural and Health Improvement Officer for Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Renal Services.
Her role was initially funded in 2010 by Kidney Care UK, formerly known as the British Kidney Patients Association.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust acknowledged the beneficial value of the role to all their renal patients and in 2012 incorporated and funded the post of Cultural and Health Improvement Officer as a permanent member of the Renal multi-disciplinary team.
Tahira’s main responsibilities were initially to work closely with our South Asian renal patients; however she now work with all renal patients, their relatives and the hospital renal team, providing education, advocacy, support and advice.
She also provides a link to outside agencies that are able to assist with a wide range of social care issues as well as empowering our patients and their families to be able to deal with matters on their own, in order to build their confidence and knowledge.
