Lifeline for kidney patients as vital Dublin centre set to reopen

For thousands of kidney patients forced to travel long distances to Dublin for lifesaving treatment, the absence of a safe, free place to stay has been a crushing burden since 2020.

Now, that lifeline is finally coming back, the National Kidney Support Centre beside Beaumont Hospital is set to reopen in spring 2026 after a major €1.3 million renovation.

The Irish Kidney Association (IKA), which runs the facility, has launched a nationwide fundraising drive to complete the final phase of the project.

A new website, www.supportkidneycentre.ie, allows people and businesses to directly contribute towards the €250,000 still needed to finish the refurbishment and fit-out.

First opened in 2000, the centre provided free overnight accommodation and daytime refuge for patients and their families until it was requisitioned by Beaumont Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

It was formally handed back to the IKA last November, paving the way for a full modernisation that will ensure the centre remains a “home away from home” for generations of kidney patients.

Located less than 200 metres from the front doors of Beaumont, home to Ireland’s National Kidney Transplant Service, the centre has long been a vital resource for those travelling from outside the capital.

It spares families the costs of hotels, parking, and long commutes, while also providing respite from the stress of hospital corridors.

When it reopens, the upgraded centre will feature ensuite family bedrooms, a communal kitchen and dining space, landscaped gardens, a meditation and counselling room, and a multi-purpose community room for support groups.

Environmentally sustainable features, including solar panels, heat pumps and greywater recycling, are being built in to future-proof the building.

The centre will once again offer free accommodation, tea and coffee, self-catering facilities, and a calm, infection-aware setting for day visitors attending outpatient clinics or dialysis training.

Carol Moore, Chief Executive of the IKA, said the project is essential to easing the strain on patients and families.

“There are over 5,000 people in Ireland living with end-stage kidney disease.

For many, travelling to Dublin for treatment is exhausting, expensive and emotionally draining,” she said.

“The Support Centre has always been more than just a building.

“It is a sanctuary where patients find peace, connection and understanding. With the public’s help, we can reopen its doors and make it better than ever.”

Supporters can donate in different ways through the campaign website — from funding everyday essentials such as bedding and kitchen items, to sponsoring larger projects like counselling rooms or family bedrooms. Corporate packages are also available from €5,000 upwards.

The IKA stressed that only items purchased through the official website will be accepted to streamline the process and avoid duplication.

Moore added: “Whether it’s a set of teaspoons, a bed, or a full room refurbishment, every single contribution brings us closer to reopening this lifeline for kidney patients and their families.”