David had to under go kidney dialysis treatment for a large portion of his life. His kidney failure was brought on by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus commonly abbreviated to SLE or just Lupus. The dialysis treatment David received at The Hammersmith Hospital added many more years to his life than would of been possible without this treatment.

The Friends key activities are to raise funds for the patients and staff of Hammersmith Hospital. They have been doing this for over 60 years. Currently there are 22 volunteers that are actively helping them to achieve this.


This year their Annual Project is to raise funds to purchase Plasma Exchange equipment for the benefit of dialysis patients being treated by the Renal Department. Plasma Exhange is a procedure involving the separation and removal of the plasma from the blood to remove a diseased substance circulating in the plasma. Some diseases create substances which circulate thorughout the body in the plasma portion of the blood. In certain diseases, such as Vasculitis, these substances are called "auto-antibodies". These auto-antibodies attack healthy cells or tissues. With the use of the Plasma Exchange it is possibile to remove the specific substance causing the disease.


Plasma Exchange equipment is also used in preparation of complex kidney transplants to remove antibodies that could prevent the success of the transplant. After transplantation it may be used to treat rejection of the transplanted organ.

www.friendsofhammersmithhospital.org.uk