PKD App (UK)
Free digital self-care and education support for people living with ADPKD
The PKD App is a trusted, free self-care and education app used by NHS renal teams, charities, and patient organisations to support people living with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
It provides clear, evidence-informed guidance from the point of diagnosis onwards - helping people understand their condition, manage everyday life more confidently, and access the right support earlier.
In doing so, it reassures patients, reduces uncertainty, and helps ease avoidable pressure on renal services.
The app can be localised to raise awareness of local services, support, and care pathways - while retaining consistent, trusted core guidance.
Available free on the Apple App Store and Google Play. No account required.
Why this app exists
A new diagnosis of ADPKD can feel overwhelming.
People are often left with urgent questions about their health, their family, and their future - many of which cannot be fully addressed in a single clinic appointment. At the same time:
- information online is often unsafe, outdated, or confusing
- patients may struggle to absorb complex information under stress
- renal teams want to help, but time and capacity are limited
The result is familiar: patients leave appointments with unanswered questions, anxiety builds between visits, and services face repeated queries and avoidable follow-up contacts.
A calm, practical way to support people from day one
With the PKD App, you gain a simple, reliable way to support people living with ADPKD from diagnosis onwards.
The app adds a mobile layer to how you already provide patient education - complementing consultations, letters, and clinic leaflets by putting clear, trusted guidance directly into people’s hands, whenever they need it.
In practice, the app helps you to:
- support patient understanding and reassurance
- reinforce key messages shared in clinic
- reduce repeated questions and uncertainty
- complement renal care, not replace it
If you want to go further, you can localise the app to reflect your service, with a branded home page and clear signposting to local renal pathways and support.
Supporting people across the ADPKD care pathway
People with ADPKD don’t experience their condition in a straight line. Needs change over time - from diagnosis, through monitoring, family planning, and long-term management.
The PKD App can support people at different points, including:
- At diagnosis – helping people understand what ADPKD is and what to expect.
- Between appointments – reinforcing advice and reducing uncertainty.
- Alongside ongoing care – supporting lifestyle management and shared decision-making.
- For families and carers – offering guidance on inheritance, genetic counselling, and support for partners and children.
In each case, the app sits alongside existing renal services - offering clarity, reassurance, and a trusted reference point.
Why mobile apps work for long-term conditions
Support works best when it’s available at the moment it’s needed - not just during appointments.
Mobile apps allow people to:
- revisit information at their own pace
- access support privately, at home or on the go
- return to trusted guidance as questions arise
- use support offline, without barriers
Once downloaded, the app stays with people - providing one clear, reliable place to turn as their needs evolve.
Who the app is for - and who it isn’t
You can think of the PKD App as a digital patient education companion, designed for:
- people diagnosed with ADPKD
- family members and carers
- renal teams, charities, and support organisations
The app is not a medical device and is not intended to:
- replace clinical assessment or treatment
- act as an emergency service
- collect or monitor personal data
Instead, it supports understanding, self-management, and informed conversations alongside professional care.
How the PKD App works in practice
Inside the app, people find clear, structured content designed to support real-world questions and concerns.
This includes guidance to help people:
- understand ADPKD – symptoms, causes, inheritance, and progression
- manage everyday life – diet, exercise, work, and family life
- plan for the future – including genetic counselling and family planning
- find trusted support – renal teams, charities, peer support, and helplines
- support loved ones – guidance for partners, children, and carers
Everything is written in plain English and designed to be easy to return to - especially after appointments or during periods of uncertainty.
Safe, private, and free to use
So you can share the PKD App with confidence, it has been designed with safety and accessibility at its core:
- entirely free for patients and organisations
- no contracts, no sign-up, and no technical set-up
- no personal data collection, tracking, or profiling
- no ads or in-app purchases
- compatible with standard smartphone accessibility features
People can use the app privately, on their own terms - even when offline.
Risk & assurance summary
Expert Self Care apps are designed to extend access to trusted self-care and patient education while responsibly managing organisational risk.
- Not a replacement for renal care or clinical decision-making
- No personal data collection or monitoring
- Clinically led, evidence-informed, and PIF TICK certified
- Free to use, with no contracts or operational burden
- Suitable for use across NHS Trusts, renal networks, and ICS pathways
Governance note: The PKD App supports patient education and self-management alongside existing renal services. It does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or emergency response.
Proven quality and real-world impact
The PKD App is trusted, quality-assured support:
- PIF TICK certified — the UK mark of trusted health information
- Co-created by Expert Self Care and The PKD Charity
- Developed with partners including Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK, and the UK Kidney Association
- Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund
This is established, credible support - ready to use at scale.
Understanding the value for renal services
The PKD App is a small, predictable investment of attention that can unlock meaningful value over time.
It can help organisations to:
- support patients more effectively, with consistent education
- reduce repeated queries and unnecessary contacts
- improve patient confidence and engagement
- reinforce messages between appointments
- avoid the cost and risk of building a digital product
Ultimately, the value lies in making trusted information easier to access - earlier, and when people are ready to absorb it.
Designed to support sustainability
The PKD App supports sustainability in practical ways:
- For people – improved understanding, reassurance, and self-management
- For services – prevention, efficiency, and better use of clinical time
- For the planet – reduced reliance on printed materials and duplicated resources
A simple digital intervention with long-term benefit.
Make the PKD App locally relevant (optional)
NHS Trusts, renal networks, and charities can localise the PKD App to:
- add a branded home page
- clearly signpost local renal pathways and services
- tailor messaging for their patient population
Helping people find the right support faster - without the cost or complexity of building something new.
The difference the PKD App can make
When people with ADPKD have access to clear, trusted information, they are more likely to:
- feel reassured and informed from diagnosis
- manage everyday life more confidently
- engage more effectively with renal services
- experience less anxiety between appointments
Giving people one trusted place for support can make everything feel lighter — for them, and for the teams caring for them.
Let’s start a conversation
If you’d like to explore how the PKD App could support people with ADPKD in your service or community, we’d be glad to talk.