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What Is A Support Centre?
Our Support Centres are welcoming “home away from home” spaces for kidney patients and their families. They are designed to offer practical help, comfort, and a sense of community at a time when life can feel very uncertain.
Our Support Centres provide a warm, relaxed environment where you can take a break before or after hospital appointments, meet other patients and families who truly understand, and access information about living with kidney disease. Many people tell us that simply having a safe, friendly place to sit, talk, and be heard makes a huge difference.
How to access this service
Who this service is for?
Adults living with kidney disease
Kidney transplant recipients
Family members, partners and carers
How this service can help you
Overnight stays for those who travel for appointments
Facilities to relax or prepare meals while waiting between appointments
Staff who can listen, offer reassurance, and help you find the right supports
How to access this service
National (Beaumont) 01 620 5306 Munster (Cork University Hospital) 021 2044 555
National (Beaumont) info@ika.ie Munster (Cork University Hospital) munstersupportcentre@ika.ie
You can contact us yourself, or ask a family member, carer or hospital staff member to get in touch on your behalf.
Where Are the Support Centres Located?
Munster Kidney Support Centre
Cork University Hospital Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 6.00pm. Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm.
National Member Forum
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions and answers explain how the Member Forum works, who can take part, what’s expected of members, and how your views help shape the IKA’s work on behalf of kidney patients and their families.
To book an overnight stay in one of our Support Centres, please phone during our opening hours or send us an email to let us know the dates of your hospital appointments. Due to limited parking we unfortunately cannot accommodate drop-ins.
No, there is no charge to use the Support Centres.
They are funded through the work of the Irish Kidney Association, including donations and fundraising, so that kidney patients and their families can access a safe, welcoming space free of financial worry.
Yes. Our Support Centres are very much for families and carers as well as for patients. You are welcome to bring:
- Your partner or spouse.
- Children (where there is a guardian to care for them if you need to attend a hospital appointment alone).
- Parents, siblings, or close friends who are supporting you.
We know that kidney disease affects the whole family, not just the person with the diagnosis. Our Support Centres are a place where everyone can take a breath, sit together, and feel supported.
If you are bringing a larger group or young children, you might like to phone ahead so we can best accommodate you.
Accessibility is very important to us. Our Support Centres are designed with wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility in mind.
Our Support Centres have wheelchair accessible bedrooms and bathrooms and step‑free or ramped access where possible.
If you have specific accessibility needs, we strongly encourage you to phone or email the Support Centre in advance to check access details.
Our Support Centres provide a warm, relaxed environment where you can take a break before or after hospital appointments, meet other patients and families who truly understand, and access information about living with kidney disease. Facilities include:
- Communal kitchen facilities: Guests can make use of our fully equipped kitchen to cook or prepare snacks. Complimentary tea and coffee are available.
- A place to relax: There is a TV lounge where guests can relax.
- Quiet room and garden: For those seeking a quiet space and time for reflection, the quiet room offers privacy and tranquility, while the garden provides an additional space for relaxation.
Apart from assistance dogs, pets are not permitted within the Munster Kidney Support Centre.
If you have trouble finding a Support Centre, please don’t worry, it happens, especially around large hospital campuses. You can phone the Support Centre directly or call the Irish Kidney Association office on 01 620 5306.