Dr. Gillian Hirst

Title

Associate Specialist in Nephrology

Qualifications

MB ChB

Special interests

Palliative and End of Life care

Brief biography

Gill is the lead clinician for the pre-dialysis service at MRI and medical lead for the Renal Palliative Care /Conservative Management service. She is a communication course trainer and teacher and has rolled out the course for all staff in the renal directorate at Manchester Royal Infirmary. She was involved in the NHS Kidney Care project looking at the End of Life (EoL) care Framework for renal patients. She chaired the Greater Manchester EoL strategy group, defining the strategy for 2013-2016, as well as sitting on the advanced kidney disease strategy group with the same remit. Gill sits on the Greater Manchester Cross Cutting Palliative Care Group as renal representative. She was an invited speaker at The National Palliative Care meeting, Manchester 2011 and The North West British Geriatric Society 2012.

Gill regularly teaches at undergraduate and post-graduate level and lectures on conservative management of end stage renal disease.

Gill was awarded funding from the Greater Manchester Cancer Care Network for a renal Advanced Care project in the dialysis population, initiating advanced care plans, and setting up a ‘Cause for Concern Register’ for these patients. This successful project is almost completed.

She is Principal Investigator for the DAARD project looking at depression in Advanced Renal Disease.