Digital patient information hub

Looking after your dialysis line

An easy read guide

Cover image of person sat with their dialysis line showing. The words easy read are in a yellow circle
An illustration of a happy man holding an easy read leaflet with his thumbs up.

Easy read

This booklet uses easy words and pictures to tell you how to look after your dialysis line.

You might want to ask someone to help you read it.

Illustration of a dialysis line going into the skin.

Your dialysis line

Your dialysis line is used for dialysis treatment to keep you healthy.

Image to of person with question marks around them because they don't know what to do if something happens to their dialysis line.

Problem with your line?

It is important that you know what to do if there is a problem with your dialysis line.

image of a sore, itchy or infected dialysis line site

Infection

Your line may become infected.

image showing pain around the site of the dialysis line

You may get pain near the line.

image of dialysis line with bump on the skin

You may get swelling near the line.

image showing someone who is too hot and someone who is too cold and shivery

You may have a high temperature or feel cold and shivery.

image of a nurse

Tell your nurse

You must tell your dialysis nurse straight away if you notice any of these problems.

image of a dialysis line showing the lump that goes under the skin.

Line coming out

Your line has a small bump that keeps it in place.

image to show you should ring a nurse immediately if the lump on your line is showing

If you see the bump coming out of your skin please phone the dialysis unit straight away.

image of a sore, itchy or infected dialysis line site

Itching

Your line may feel itchy.

image of thumbs down in red with the text bad.

It is important not to scratch your line.

You must not take the cover off your line.

image of a nurse

Tell your nurse

If your line feels itchy tell your dialysis nurse who will be able to help you.

image of a hand held shower

Showering

It is important to keep your line dry when you have a shower.

illustration of bleeding coming from a dialysis

Bleeding

Your line may fall out
or
you may see blood coming out.

Illustration of person upset, talking to another person

You MUST shout for help straight away.

Your family or friend will be able to help you.

Illustration of man on a phone ringing 999

You should phone 999

Illustration shows person touching their line, Red Cross over the image to show this is the wrong thing to do.

Touching the line

It can feel strange to have a line.

It is important NOT to pull or cut the line.

Contact information icon. An image of a telephone with an i for information in the centre.

Emergency Contact Numbers

St Luke’s Haemodialysis Unit (01274) 365692 or 365689. Open Monday to Saturday 7.00am to 7.00pm and Sunday from 7.00am to 5.30pm

Skipton Dialysis Unit (01756) 796218. Open Monday to Saturday 7.00am to 6.15pm.

At other times phone 111 or 999

People with hearing and speech difficulties

You can contact us using the Relay UK app. Textphone users will need to dial 18001 ahead of the number to be contacted.

Smoking

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a smoke-free organisation. You are not permitted to smoke or in use e-cigarettes in any of the hospital buildings or grounds.

Published by
, , Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ.

Authors:
Date of publication: Feb 2026
Review Date: Feb 2029
MID Ref: 25121012 Leaflet, Hub and QR code card linked to this job