Whetheryou’reapatient,familymembera
AfewdaysagoourHealthyEatingwithDiabetes andKidneyDiseaseWebinartookplace,hostedby YukoIshidaBSc(Hons)MScRDSpecialistDiabetes DietitianGreaterGlasgowandClydeNHS
Yukoisalsothecreatorofrenaldietaryvideosthat helppatientswiththeirdietsandwhatfoodsare goodandbadtoeat.YukowasalsojoinedbyHattie Stiff,NKFAmbassador,todiscussherexperience witharenaldiet.
Thiswebinarfocusedonbothdiabeticandkidney patientsaimingtohelpwithanunderstandingon diet,whatisbestforthemandhowtomanagetheir conditions.
Overthepastfiveyears,giftsinWillshavemadeupmore thanathirdoftheNKF’stotalincome.
Quitesimply,withoutthisgeneroussupport,muchofthe workwedotodaywouldnotbepossible
Ourlegacygivingpackisdesignedtoguideyouthrough everystepoftheprocesswitheaseandconfidence.Inside, you’llfindguidanceaboutthedifferenttypesoflegacies, alongwithpracticalguidanceonhowtoensureyour wishesarehonoured.
ByleavingagiftinyourWill,youcouldhelpus:
•Expandandstrengthenourvitalpatientservices, includingourHelplineandPeerSupportservices.
•Campaignsothatkidneypatientsandfamilieshavethe caretheydeserveandtheabilitytochoosethetreatment optionsthatworksforthem,suchashometherapies.
•Ensurethatkidneydiseaseremainshighontheagenda fordecisionmakers,amplifyingthepatientvoicewhereit mattersmost
We’reproudtopartnerwithFreeWills,allowingyouto createafullycomprehensiveWillonline,freeofcharge.It’s secure,simpleandgivesyoutheopportunitytoleavea legacyofhope.
Tolearnmore,pleasedownloadourfreelegacygiving packandstartyourfreeWilltoday.
Todownloadourfreelegacygiving packortostartyourfreeWilltoday, pleasevisit:
www.kidney.org.uk/legacy-giving
Weareincrediblyproudtoannouncethatthe'No StoneUnturned'campaignhaswontheCreative MediaAwardattheAsianMediaAwards.
Thiscampaignwasavitalpartnershipbetween AlnylamPharmaceuticals,theNationalKidney Federation,SouthAsianHealthAction,andIntent Health Oursharedgoalwastotackleaserioushealth inequitybyraisingawarenessofgenetickidney disease,specificallyPrimaryHyperoxaluriaType1(PH1), withintheSouthAsiancommunity.PH1isararegenetic diseasethatissilentlyprevalentinthiscommunity, whichalreadyfacespoorkidneyhealthoutcomes.
Youcanfinddetailedinformationaboutthis conditiononourdedicatedPH1resourcepage: https://www.kidney.org.uk/ph1
Thecampaign'ssuccesswasbuiltonafoundationof co-creationandcommunitylistening Weworked directlywithcommunityadvisorsfromtheSouthAsian community,anephrologist,andacarertounderstand theculturalnuancesandbarrierstohealth information.Thisinsightallowedforthecreationofa trulybespoke,multi-channelmediacampaign.The creativemixincludedadedicatedonlinehubwith resourcesinEnglishandUrdu,trustedprintadvertorials inEasternEyeandAsianExpress,andradiosegments featuringcommunityambassadorsthatreachedover 8millionlisteners.Bilingualeducationalleafletswere alsoplacedin177GPpracticesinthehigh-prevalence areasofBirmingham,BradfordandLondon.
Bydeployingculturallysensitivemessagesacross multiplechannels,wewereabletoempower meaningfulconversationsaboutkidneyhealth The campaignledtosignificantincreasesinGoogle searchesfor"PH1"and"kidneyhealth".Mostimportantly, thisinitiativehasdrivenasteadyincreaseinreferrals, leadingtonewPH1diagnosesandempoweringpeople withtheinformationneededforbetterhealth outcomes.
TheNationalKidneyFederation(NKF)is workingwithCuroviaHealthcareonan excitingnewprojecttocreateshort, animatedvideostohelppeopleunderstand moreaboutkidneydiseaseandtreatment.
Thesevideosarebeingmadefreeofcharge byCuroviaforthebenefitofpatientsand families.
We’dlovetohearfrompeoplelivingwith kidneydisease andtheirfamilymembers throughfriendlyonlinefocusgroups.
We’reespeciallyinterestedinhearingfrom thosewhohavefoundkidneyinformation hardtounderstandinthepast,orwho speakEnglishasasecondlanguage.
�� Tofindoutmoreorjoinin,please contactKatePymatinfo@curovia.co.uk.
Weunderstandthatmanypeoplemay havequestionsaboutwhethertheirfaithor beliefsmayaffecttheirabilitytobecomean organdonor
Tohelpincreaseawarenessoforgan donationandprovideguidancefor communicatingkeythemes,messaging bookletshavebeendeveloped.Thesewere createdfollowingaconferenceheldwith NHSBloodandTransplantandtheNational Black,Asian,MixedRaceandMinorityEthnic TransplantAlliance(NBTA)toidentify faith-specificmessagingguidance.
Viewthemessagingguidance bookletshere: https://shorturl.at/5tj3c
TheNationalKidneyFederation(NKF)are pleasedtosharenewsofthelaunchofLook
BeyondtheBias–anewcampaignbyChiesiUK andIreland–backedbyacoalitionofpatient organisationsincludingtheNKF,healthcare professionalsandadvocates.Thecampaign shinesalightontheharmfulimpactofstigma andbiasfacedbypeoplelivingwithhealth conditionsandcallsforfairer,moreinclusive care
ThecampaignisinformedbynewUKsurvey datafrommorethan1,100peoplelivingwith chronicandgeneticconditions,including asthma,chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease (COPD),rarediseases,organtransplant recipients,andparentsofchildrenborn prematurely.Theresultshighlightaclearand urgentproblem:biasmayimpactaccesstofair andinclusivecare.
TheDamagingImpactofBias
Thesurvey,whichwasconductedbyChiesiUK andIrelandearlierthisyear,showsjusthow widespreadstigmacanbe:
70%haveexperiencedstigma,judgementor blamebasedontheirhealthcondition
57%haveavoidedseekingmedicalsupport duetostigmaorbias1
70%haveisolatedthemselvesfromloved onesforfearofjudgement1
82%ofyoungadultshaveexperiencedbias almosttwicetherateofover-55s1
79%saythey’veplayeddowntheimpactof theircondition1
Over60%ofpeoplehavehiddentheir conditionfromcolleaguesortheiremployer1
Thecampaignshowshowstigmaandbiascut acrosseverypartoflife,withthosesurveyed sayingitplaysaroleindelayingdiagnosis, limitingresearchfundingandleavessome conditionsoverlookedanddeprioritised.1
Thisproblemtouchesmanyareasofhealth. Biasfuelsinequalityinkidneydiseasewomen,especiallythosefromethnicminority groups,arereferredfortransplantslaterthan men,despitebeingmorelikelytodonate.
VoicesfromtheCommunity Throughrealstoriesandimageryofpeople livingwithlong-termconditions,the campaignhighlightstheauthenticandoften rawimpactofstigmaonhealth,workand everydaylife.Listentotheirstories,here [www.chiesi.uk.com/look-beyond-thebias]
WhatWeHavetoSay
PeteRevell,HeadofMarketingand Fundraising,NationalKidneyFederation,said: “Manykidneytransplantandrarekidney diseasepatientscontinuetofacebiasand unfairjudgmentthatdirectlyaffectstheir careandemotionalwell-being Patients reportedfeelingdismissed,misunderstood, orstereotypedbecauseoftheircondition, withthisimpactingaccesstotimely treatmentandsupport.Thesefindings underlineanurgentneedforgreater awareness,training,andpatientcentred approachesacrosshealthcare,ensuringno one’skidneyjourneyismadeharderby prejudiceorinequality.”
ASharedCommitment
ThelaunchofLookBeyondtheBiasmarks thestartofalong-termcommitmentto tacklingthestigmauncoveredinthesurvey. ChiesiisworkingwiththeNHS,patient groupsandthewiderhealthcarecommunity tochampionmoreinclusiveapproachesto care.
RalphBlom,GeneralManager,ChiesiUKand Ireland,commented:“LookBeyondtheBiasis ourcommitmenttotacklingharmfulbiases thatexistintheUKthataredeeplyaffecting thepatientsweserve.Thestigma, judgementandblamethatpeoplefeelona regularbasisiswidespreadanddeeprooted,andwe’reproudtobeworkingwith partnersacrossthecommunityandNHSto addressthischallenge.AtChiesi,wefeel stronglythatnooneshouldbemadetofeel ashamed,dismissedorblamedbecauseof theirhealth,andthisbeliefsitsattheheartof LookBeyondtheBias.”
Learnmoreat:www.chiesi.uk.com/look-beyond-the-bias
DIGITAL INTERVENTIONS FOR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
HealthTechnologyWales(HTW)haspublishednationalguidancerecommendingtheroutine adoptionofKidneyBeam,adigitaltooltosupportpeoplelivingwithchronickidneydisease (CKD)inWales.CKDaffectsjustunder100,000peopleinWales.Lifestylechanges,suchas increasedexerciseandanimproveddietcanbebeneficialinhelpingtomanagethecondition andimproveriskfactorsassociatedwithCKD.
Digitalrehabilitationandself-managementinterventions,suchaswebsitesandapps,canhelp toeducatepatientsabouttheirconditionandprovidetoolstohelpthemimprovetheirlifestyle.
AccordingtoHTW'sguidance,KidneyBeam,improvespeople'squalityoflifeandincreasestheir confidenceinmanagingtheircondition.Theguidancealsofoundthatthetechnologyiscost effectiveandthatitshouldbeusedasanadditionaltoolalongsideanyotherprogrammes currentlyofferedinWales.
Readtheguidanceinfull:
https://healthtechnology.wales/reports-guidance/digitalinterventions-for-chronic-kidney-disease/
SHEFFIELD KIDNEY INSTITUTE OPEN
EVENING
TheSheffieldKidneyInstitutehostedtheirfinal openingeveningoftheyearon24 October,at theSorbyKidneyInstituteRenalOutpatients Department,todiscussmedicationandhowto staywell.
Theeventwashostedbypre-dialysisnurses GwynSomersandDebbieDouglas NKFHelpline Advisor,LindaPickering,wasalsoinattendance withmedicationanddialysisleaflets.
TheSheffieldKidneyInstitutehostedavarietyof openeveningsthroughout2025toempower individualstomanagetheircondition,make informedchoicesabouttheircareandbuilda positiveapproachtokidneyhealth.
A STEP FORWARD FOR KIDNEY HEALTH
DrOgeIlozue,GPandVaccination ProgrammeClinicalAdvisor,shareswhythe fluvaccineisimportantforpeoplelivingwith chronickidneydisease.
Flucancausesevereillnesswhichcanlead topneumoniaresultinginhospitalisationfor peoplewithaseriousmedicalcondition suchaslivingwithchronickidneydisease
Theinjectedfluvaccinesdonotcontainlive viruses,socannotgiveyouflu.Somepeople getaslightlyraisedtemperatureandaching musclesforacoupleofdaysafterwards.
Thisshowsyourimmunesystemisworking toprotectagainstthelateststrainsofflu andismildcomparedtothecomplicationsif yougetflu.
Thefluvaccineiswithoutdoubtthebestway toprotectyourselffromthefluvirusthatcan causeseriousharm.
Ifyoudohavequestionsorconcernsabout vaccinations,speaktoyourGP, pharmacist,orconsultant,allofwhomcan provideevidence-basedinformation.
www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/vaccination-and-bookingservices/book-flu-vaccination/
HELPLINE
Beingcalledintohospitalforakidneytransplant doesn’tguaranteetheoperationwillproceed. Severaltestsaredonetoensurethepatientisfit andwon’trejectthekidney
1.PhysicalExamination
Adoctorperformsathoroughchecktoconfirmit's safetooperate.Ifthepatienthasaconditionlikea heavycold,theanaestheticmayposearisk.If deemedunfit,thepatientissenthomeandremains onthewaitinglist.
2.Cross-MatchTest
Thisbloodtestchecksforantibodiesthatmight attackthedonorkidney.Asampleoftherecipient’s bloodismixedwithdonorcells.Ifthere’snoreaction (anegativecross-match),thetransplantcan proceed Apositiveresultmeansthekidneycould berejectedimmediately,andthepatientisusually senthome Inborderlinecases,thetransplantmay stillgoaheadwithcaution.
VirtualCross-Match
Manycentresusevirtualcross-matching,predicting compatibilitybasedonknownantibodies.If predictednegative,thetransplantproceedsquickly, preservingthekidney’sviability.
TheTransplantOperation
Thesurgerylasts2–3hoursundergeneral anaesthetic Adiagonalincisionismadeinthe lowerabdomen Therecipient’sownkidneysare usuallyleftinplace Thenewkidneyispositioned abovethegroinandconnectedtobloodvesselsin theleg.Itsureterisattachedtothebladder,often withatemporaryplasticstenttopreventblockage orleakage.Aftersurgery,theabdomenisclosed withdissolvablestitches.
Post-OperationCare
Uponwaking,thepatientwillhaveseveraltubes:
Urinarycatheter(3–5days)
IVdripforfluidsandmedication
Surgicaldrainstoremovefluidaroundthekidney
CVPline(lesscommon),measuring heartbloodpressure
Theseareremovedgraduallyoverthe nextfewdays.
PainRelief
PainismanagedwithPatientControlled Analgesia(PCA),allowingselfadministereddoses Tabletsare introducedafterafewdays
RecoveryandMonitoring
Thefirstfewdaysarecritical.Blood pressure,fluidintake,andurineoutput arecloselymonitored.Mostpatientseat anddrinkthedayaftersurgeryandsit upthefollowingday.Dailybloodtests measurecreatininelevelstoassess kidneyfunction.Urinevolumeisn’ta reliableindicatorearlyon.Inaboutonethirdofcases,thekidneymaynot produceurineinitially.Dialysismaybe neededtemporarily
HospitalStayandFollow-Up
Patientstypicallystay5–7days,longerif complicationsarise.Afterdischarge, clinicvisitsarefrequentstartingwith multipletimesperweek,gradually reducingtoeveryfewmonthsonce stable.
Torequestthisleafletinfullpleasecontact thehelplineemailhelpline@kidney.org.uk orcall08001690936
Thereareover150patientinformation leafletsintheNKFHelplineLibraryforafull listoftitlesemailhelpline@kidney.org.uk orvisit: www.kidney.org.uk/ helpline-leaflets
Alsoavailableareourpreandpost transplantinformationpacks
“StephenandLindaa dedicatedtotheirwor knowledgeandenthu it'sclearthatthey'reb whoeverthey'respea
NKF KPA MEMBERS
Currentlythereare53KidneyPatientAssociations(KPAs) whoaremembersoftheNKF Pleasefindthedetails belowoftheKPAsavailableorformoreinformationplease contacttheNKFofficeon01909544999oremail chris@kidney.org.uk.
ChrisTalbot
NKFMembershipDevelopmentLead
IfyouareaKPAthatwouldliketobecomeanNKFmember, pleasecontactchris@kidneyorgukorcall07908845713
WeareproudastheNKFtosupportKPAsandtobethe patientvoiceacrosstheUK.
FindyourlocalKPAtoday: www.kidney.org.uk/kidney-patient-associations
PATIENT PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES
Discoveropportunitiestoshareyourexperienceand supportkidneyresearch.
TheNKFhavecreatedapageonlinewhereyoucan exploreallthecurrentopportunitiestotakepartin studies,surveysandinterviewsrunbyhealthcare professionalsandmedicalstudents
Theseprojectsaimtodeepenunderstandingofkidney diseaseandyourinsightscouldmakearealdifference.
Exploretheopportunitiesavailablenow: https://bit.ly/patientparticipationopportunities
Thankyoutoallwhohavealready supportedusbypurchasingfromour Christmascollection,we’vekepttheprices thesamethisyearforanyonewhois interestedinmakingafestivepurchase.
ChristmasCards
Choosefromavarietyofsimple,festive designssuitableforsendingtofamily, friendsandcolleagues Allproceedsfrom thesaleofthesecardscontributedirectlyto theworkoftheNKF.
2026Calendar
TheNKF2026calendarisapracticalwayto stayorganisedwhileshowingyourongoing supportforpeopleaffectedbykidney disease.Thisisaspecialrenalcartoon calendar,eachcartoonwasdrawnbythe latePeteQuaife,whowasthefounder memberofthe60’sbandTheKinks,he battledkidneydiseaseformanyyears,but alwayssawthelightersideofCKD.
RUN FOR THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FEDERATION IN 2026 - PLACES AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE
HereattheNKF,wearefortunatetohave accesstocharityplacesinawiderangeof runningeventsacrosstheUK Whetherit’sa 10k,halfmarathon,orafullmarathon,there’s somethingforeveryone–andeverystepyou takewillhelpsupportkidneypatientsand theirfamilies.
Ifyouknowsomeonewhowouldliketotake partinanyofthesefantasticevents,we’d lovetohearfromthem!Runnerswill receive:
AnofficialNKFrunningvest
Fullsupportandencouragementfrom ourfundraisingteam
Theknowledgethattheyaremakinga realdifferenceforkidneypatientsacross thecountry
Formoredetails,pleasecontact pete@kidney.org.ukorfollowtheevent linksbelow.
JoinTeamNKFtoday!
BirminghamRunningFestival,Half Marathon,Jan11 2026
https://wwwkidneyorguk/Event/birmingha m-running-festival-half-marathon-11thjanuary-2026 th
Newcastle10KJan17th2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/newcastle10k-17th-january-2026
LeicesterHalfMarathonFeb22 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/leicestershir e-half-marathon-22nd-february-2026
CambridgeHalfMarathon,March8 2026
th
https://wwwkidneyorguk/Event/cambri dge-half-marathon-8th-march-2026
th
KetteringHalfMarathon,March8 2026 https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/ketterin g-half-marathon-8th-march-2026
th
Chester10K,March8 2026 https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/mbnachester-8th-march-2026
HamptonCourtPalaceHalfMarathon, March15 2026
th
https://wwwkidneyorguk/Event/hampt on-court-palace-half-marathon-15thmarch-2026
BrightonMarathon,April12 2026 https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/thebrighton-marathon-12th-april-2026
th ManchesterMarathon,April19 2026 https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/manch ester-marathon-19th-april-2026
th LeedsMarathon,May10 2026 https://wwwkidneyorguk/Event/leedsmarathon-10th-may-2026
th Toexploremoreeventsavailablevisit: https://www.kidney.org.uk/Pages/Events /Category/event?Take=23
You'll get a 10% off voucher to spend on our online shop. Plus, exclusive member discount days.
Be the first to know about upcoming sales, events, and more...
You'll receive exclusive invites to our NKF special events. Plus, exclusive discounted rates to our Annual NKF Event.
Our Helpline is a lifeline -Help us answer more calls for support.
Your knowledge is power - Help us to empower patients and be in control of their health choices.
Let’s shape futures together. Help us to raise big kidney challenges and voice real solutions in Parliament.
Together we’re stronger. Help us recognise and support local voices.
Together, we can bring hope and support to kidney patients and their families across the UK. Join now https://bit.ly/nkfmembership
