NKF ANNUAL EVENT
3 WEEKS TO GO!
TheNKFAnnualEventwilltakeplaceattheHilton Hotel,EastMidlandsAirportDE742YZ.
Don’tforgettobookyourdaydelegateticket directlywiththeNKF!
Thebedroomsinthishotelarenowfullybooked. Pleaseviewtheinformationonourwebsitefor linkstootherhotelsnearby.
MainEvent
Sunday12thOctober2025
Daydelegaterate-£55perperson
Hearfromourinspiringspeakersfromhealthcare professionalstopatientspeakers,sharingtheir storiesandguidance, andnottoforget,browse ourexhibitionhall!Withyourdaydelegateticket helpyourselftocomplimentaryteasandcoffees allday,plusenjoyadeliciousbuffetlunch NKF Memberssave10%offonthedaydelegaterate formoreinformationcall 01909544999.
Saturday11thOctober2025
Thefirst100peoplestayingoverlocallyatany hotelwillreceiveacomplimentarySaturday eveningbuffetandquiz (Pleasereserveyour buffetwhenbookingyourplaceasaday delegate.)
FormoreontheNKFAnnualEvent programmeandtobook, pleasevisit ourwebsite: www.kidney.org.uk
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
WEDNESDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 5PM
Inournextwebinar,Dr.HellenaHabte-Asres, LeadClinicalAcademicResearchNursein Diabetes&ChronicKidneyDisease(CKD)at RoyalFreeLondonNHSFoundationTrustand aguestpatientspeakerwillpresentonthe impactofCOVID-19onpeoplewithCKD, whatweknownowandhowtolivewellwith CKDinthepost-pandemicworld
Thiswebinarissponsoredandfullyfunded byPfizerLimited.
Pfizerwillreviewthecontenttoensure compliance PP-UNP-GBR-12837|August2025
Catchupanytime,anywhere Ourpasteventsandwebinarrecordingsare availableonourYouTubeChannelreadyfor youtoexplorewheneveritsuitsyou.We've coveredawiderangeofimportantand oftenoverlookedtopicsincludingtraveland dialysis,footcare,skincare,sexual relationships,mentalhealth,dietandso muchmore.
Whetheryou'relookingforpractical advice,emotionalsupportorjustwant tofeelmoreinformed,empoweredand connected,there'ssomethingfor everyone.
Toreserveyourplace toourwebinar,sign upforfreetoday:
www.kidney.org.uk/Event/ nkf-webinar-series
EASYREADKIDNEYLEAFLETSNOW
AVAILABLEANDFREETOORDER
Wearedelightedtoinformyouthatthe NationalKidneyFederation,incollaboration withNHSLeedsTeachingHospitals,has launchedanewseriesofEasyRead InformationLeafletsdesignedspecificallyfor kidneypatients.TheEasyReadleafletsare availablefreeofcharge.
WhyEasyRead?TheEasyReadformathas beencarefullydevelopedto: Useeasywordsandshortsentencesto explainthings–keymessagesarebroken downintoclear,step-by-stepexplanations.
Includevisualaids–illustrationsand symbolstosupportunderstanding.
Supportinformeddecisionmaking–empoweringpatientstoengagemore confidentlyintheircare.
Encourageindependence–enabling patientstobettermanagetheircondition andunderstandtheirtreatmentoptions
HowtoOrder TheNKFprovidestheseleafletsfreeof charge.
CalltheNKFFreephoneHelpline: 08001690936,visittheNKFwebsite www.kidney.org.ukoremail helpline@kidney.org.uk.
What’sAvailableNowandWhat’sNext Thisisthefirstreleaseinaplannedseriesof over30EasyReadtitles,eachcoveringa differentaspectofkidneydiseaseand patientcare.
Ifyouwouldlikefurtherdetailsorsample copiesbeforeplacingabulkorder,please donothesitatetocontacttheNKFHelpline teamon08001690936oremail helpline@kidney.org.uk.
On7 September,theBedfordHalf Marathonwasheld,withtheBedfordRenal UnitproudlytakingpartinsupportofLister AreaKidneyPatientsAssociation. th
Fiverunnerstookpart,SamandOscar,both renalnurses;Andy,akidneytransplant recipientof18years;Lu,whosehusbandis ondialysis,andLu’sfriend,Marianne.
Theteamrepresentedandrantosupport kidneypatientsonbehalfofListerArea KidneyPatientsAssociation.TheirJustGiving pagehasalreadyraisedoveranincredible £1,500.
WelldonetotheteamandtoListerArea KPAOfficer,TarsemPaul,forbuildingand leadingtheteamtoprepareforthebigday!
TheNationalKidneyFederationispleasedto welcomeLancashireandSouthCumbriaKPAas anewNKFmember.Inthisupdate,DavidGreen, LancashireandSouthCumbriaKPAChairman, reflectsonthepast12months,outlininghowthe KPAwasre-establishedandshareshisfuture planstoimprovepatientwelfareandwellbeing onalocalscale.
“TheKidneyPatientAssociationofLancashireand SouthCumbriahasninedifferentunitsacrossan enormouschunkofNorthWestEngland,muchof whichisbeautifulareasofcoastandcountryside, hencethelargenumberofunits.
Mywife,Ann,andIarrivedinLancashirein2023, movingpost-retirementtobeclosertofamily,and uponhearingthis,DavidCoyletookasmileas assenttohisrequestformetostartaKidney PatientAssociationinthisarea,havingbeenpart oftheListerAreaKidneyPatientsAssociation duringourtimeinHertfordshire!
Neveronetoturnfromachallenge,Ibeganto workwithoneoftherenalteamhere,alongwith theKidneyChoicesTeam,whovisitpatientsto lookathowweengagewithpatients.
Inthepast12months,wehavefourtrusteesand areslowlygrowingwithanumberofpeople interestedinhelpingspreadtheword.AsaKPA, wesupportbi-annualeducationdays,organised bytheKidneyChoicesTeamtoinformnewly diagnosedpatientsabouttypesofdialysisand thevariousplacestoturnforsupport.
Thishasgivenustworegularspots eachyeartopromoteourselvesto peoplefacingthenewsofKidney disease,somethingweunderstand,as manyofushavefacedthesame situation.
Ourplansforthenextyearareto concentrateoncommunication, includingproducingaregular e-newsletter.Wearealsoworkingon improvingoursocialmediachannels. Wearecurrentlywaitingforour CharityCommissionregistration,and thenwewillplantostartfundraising overthecomingmonths.
WearegratefultoChrisTalbotatthe NKF,whohasencouragedandguided usthroughthosetimeswhenwe wantedtogiveup.Also,totheNorth WestKidneyPatientAssociationwho aresupportiveofusandhaveoffered helpandadvice,whichwearefinding souseful.I’malsogratefultomy ex-colleaguesatListerAreaKidney PatientAssociationwhohelpedme understandtheimportantrolethata KidneyPatientAssociationcanmake tothelivesofrenalpatientsandtheir families.
Weverymuchlookforwardtoseeing patients’welfareandwellbeing improvedaswebuildanetworkof supportbasedaroundeachunitinthe area;aplanthatwilltakeafewyears toreacheverypart,butoneweare committedto.”
DavidGreen LancashireandSouthCumbriaKPA Chairman
HELPLINE
Whatcancausepain?
Painisthemainwaythatourbodytellsus somethingiswrong Painisoneofthemore commonreasonstogotoseeadoctorfor suspectedproblemswiththekidneysorurine
Whereispainfelt?
Paincancomefromanypartofthekidneysand urinedrainagesystem.
Painintheback
Thekidneysarefoundintheupperback(the ‘smalloftheback’,itisoftencalled).Kidney diseasecancausepaininthispartoftheupper back.Thecommonestcausesofkidneypainin thebackareinfectionandkidneystones
Paininthegroin(orinthetesticles)
Thebodyfeelspaininunusualways,and sometimespainfromaninternalorganisfelt awayfromthesiteoftheinternalorgan(the commonestexampleispainfromthe gallbladder,inthetummy,whichcanbefelton thetipoftheshoulder).
Painthatgetsworsewhilepassingwater/or justbeforepassingwater
Astingingpaininthetube(calledtheurethra) thatcarriesurineoutofyourbody(fromthe bladder)isacommonsymptomofurine problems
Teststhatmaybeperformedforpain
Doctorscaninvestigatepainthatseemstocome fromthekidneyswithanumberoftests.These areexamplesofthesimpletests,buttheneedsof eachpersonshouldbeconsideredindividually.
Urinedipstick-thisiswhenasmallsampleof urineistestedwith‘indicatorpaper’ontheendof asmallplasticstick.
Urineculture-urinecanbesenttothelaboratory forteststoseeiftherearebugsintheurine
ScanorXray-ofthekidneysand bladder.
Bloodtests-tomeasurewhetherthe kidneysareremovingwastefromthe body.
Bloodpressure-shouldbe measured,askidneydiseasecan causehighbloodpressure.
Insomecaseswherekidneypainis notcausedbyinfectionandthereisa suspicionofglomerulonephritis,a kidneybiopsymaybeperformed.
Specificconditionsthatcancause pain
Hereisashortlistofsomeofthe causesofpainfromthekidneysor bladder: Infectionisthecommonest Kidneystones
Loinpainhaematuriasyndrome
Managementofpersistentpainand psychologicaleffectofpain
Mostpeoplewithkidneypainget betterwithtreatment(egtreatment ofinfectionorremovalofastone) However,somepeopledogetlong term(chronic)pain.Painthatwillnot goawayisoneoftheworstmedical problemsanyonecanhave.
Torequestthisleafletinfullplease contactthehelplineemail helpline@kidney.org.ukorcall 08001690936
Abigthankyoutoeveryonewhohas alreadypurchasedanitemfromour 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.
FUNDRAISING
RUN FOR THE NATIONAL KIDNEY
FEDERATION - 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!
th
AintreeHalfMarathon14 Dec
https://wwwkidneyorguk/Event/aintreehalf-marathon-14th-december-2025
BirminghamRunningFestival,Half Marathon,Jan11 2026
th
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/birmingha m-running-festival-half-marathon-11thjanuary-2026
Newcastle10KJan17th2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/newcastle10k-17th-january-2026
nd
LeicesterHalfMarathonFeb22 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/leiceste rshire-half-marathon-22nd-february2026
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CambridgeHalfMarathon,March8 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/cambri dge-half-marathon-8th-march-2026
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KetteringHalfMarathon,March8 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/ketterin g-half-marathon-8th-march-2026
Chester10K,March8 2026
https://wwwkidneyorguk/Event/mbnachester-8th-march-2026
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th HamptonCourtPalaceHalf-marathon, March15 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/hampt on-court-palace-half-marathon-15thmarch-2026
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BrightonMarathon,April12 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/thebrighton-marathon-12th-april-2026
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ManchesterMarathon,April19 2026
https://wwwkidneyorguk/Event/manch ester-marathon-19th-april-2026
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LeedsMarathon,May10 2026 https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/leedsmarathon-10th-may-2026
Toexploremoreeventsavailablevisit: https://www.kidney.org.uk/Pages/Events /Category/event?Take=23
NKF KPA MEMBERS
Currentlythereare52KidneyPatientAssociations(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