PKD App (UK)
Because questions about ADPKD can't always wait 'til the next appointment.
A new diagnosis of ADPKD can feel overwhelming – for patients and their families.
The PKD App gives renal services, NHS Trusts, and patient organisations one trusted, clinically grounded resource to put in people's hands from diagnosis onwards: free, private, and available whenever questions arise.
Available free on the Apple App Store and Google Play. No account required.
The moment the questions begin.
A clinic appointment can explain a diagnosis. It can outline what happens next, what to watch for, and who to call. But it can't answer every question a person will have in the days and weeks that follow — when the information has had time to settle, and the anxiety has had time to grow.
People living with ADPKD often leave appointments with more questions than they arrived with. What does this mean for my family? What can I eat? What should I avoid? Will my children be affected?
Those questions don't wait for the next appointment. And when people turn to the internet for answers, they often find outdated, inaccurate, or frightening information.
The pressure this creates for renal services.
You're supporting patients across a complex, lifelong condition – from the shock of diagnosis, through monitoring, lifestyle management, family planning, and beyond. You want every patient to feel informed, reassured, and confident in managing their condition.
But clinic time is limited. Letters and leaflets can only do so much. And repeated queries between appointments – from patients who are anxious, confused, or simply trying to make sense of what they've been told – place real pressure on already stretched renal teams.
You need something that works between appointments as well as alongside them – answering common questions consistently, reducing anxiety, and helping patients engage more effectively with the care you provide.
Better-informed patients don't just feel more confident – they make better use of clinical time.
Trusted guidance – from diagnosis and beyond.
The PKD App was commissioned by The PKD Charity and developed by Expert Self Care – built from the outset around the specific needs of people living with ADPKD, with input from Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK, and the UK Kidney Association, and funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Inside the app, people can:
- Understand their condition – clear, accurate explanations of ADPKD, symptoms, causes, and progression
- Manage everyday life with confidence – practical guidance on diet, exercise, work, and family life
- Plan for the future – including genetic counselling, family planning, and what to expect over time
- Find trusted support – signposted to renal services, The PKD Charity, peer support, and helplines
- Support their loved ones – guidance for partners, children, and carers living alongside ADPKD
Everything is written in plain English and designed to be easy to return to – especially after appointments, or during periods of uncertainty.
The app is not a replacement for clinical care. It sits alongside your existing renal services – reinforcing clinic messages, reducing repeated queries, and supporting patients at the moments your team can't be there.
Free for patients and organisations. No contracts, no set-up, no personal data collection.
Built to the standards you'd expect.
The PKD App has been independently assessed and meets recognised quality and safety standards, including:
- PIF TICK certified
- Commissioned by The PKD Charity
- Developed with Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK, and the UK Kidney Association
- Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund
Suitable for use across NHS Trusts, renal networks, and ICS pathways.
For more details on how we develop and quality-assure our content, visit our Quality Assurance and Editorial pages – both open in a new tab.
The difference it makes for your service.
When patients have access to clear, trusted information from diagnosis onwards, they are more likely to:
- feel reassured and informed between appointments
- manage everyday life more confidently
- engage more effectively with their renal care
- ask better questions – and understand the answers
For renal services, that means fewer repeated queries, more productive consultations, and patients who are genuinely prepared to participate in their own care.
Make it feel local.
NHS Trusts, renal networks, and charities can localise the PKD App – adding a branded home page and clear signposting to local renal pathways, services, and support.
A straightforward way to connect trusted, condition-specific guidance to your own service – without the cost or complexity of building something new.
Let's talk.
Want to know more first? Find out how our free apps work and how to localise this app for your organisation – both open in a new tab.
If you'd like to explore how the PKD App could support people with ADPKD in your service or organisation, we'd be glad to talk.