Friday 13 February 2009

World Kidney Day - 12 March 09 - what are you planning locally?


Kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable. Globally, World Kidney Day is gaining momentum. Here in the UK we were one of the first countries to have a comprehensive early kidney disease programme. Primary care are identifying increasing numbers of people with kidney disease. Those individuals and their families need information and support to help reduce their risks of future vascular events, acute kidney injury or progressive kidney disease.

I am delighted that there is such a high profile and recognition of kidney disease nationally. Ministers and senior members of the Department of Health and NHS are aware of the link between kidney disease and vascular disease, and know of the importance of early detection and preparation to give people choice of modality or the conservative kidney care pathway and recognise the need for expansion of both dialysis services and implementation of the transplant plan.

What are you doing locally to raise awareness? Have you thought of putting the NHS Choices Kidney Disease risk assessment tool onto your organisation’s screensaver or website on 12 March?

There are lots of materials to download from the WKD website.

I would also encourage you to look at what other people are doing and to unashamedly steal good ideas and modify them for local use.

Please do encourage your clinical management patient group and family, friends and colleagues to get involved in WKD and why not upload what you are doing locally onto the WKD site?