NKF Campaigns Zone:
Current Renal Topics - 2005

Following the publication of Parts 1 and 2 of the Renal National Service Framework (NSF) - click here for more information - a number of issues clearly require immediate action. Please take every opportunity to ask these questions both publicly and privately of all those involved in the provision of renal treatment, be they providers of renal treatment or politicians:

• Does your GP routinely check at risk patients for Chronic Kidney Disease? If not, what are his/her plans to do so, in line with the Renal NSF?
• Do renal units advocate and promote pre-dialysis transplantation – if not, why not?
• Do renal units have delays in providing Access Surgery for those requiring Dialysis? Do neck lines get fitted as a stop gap measure?
• Have local PCT Commissioners realised that dialysis patients grow in number by 8% per annum, and without sufficient dialysis capacity they will die. What plans are being made for continuous expansion?
• Are Renal Units overstretched now?
• What choice of dialysis is being offered to patients? It should be Haemodialysis, Home Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD or APD/CCPD) – not just one option.
• Does the local renal unit provide and pay for 12 “Away from home dialysis” sessions (such as holiday dialysis) – per year?
• Do Transplant centres have a ‘Non-Heart beating donor’ programme as well as ‘Heart Beating Donor’ programmes?
• Is Living Donation actively encouraged?
• Are there sufficient Intensive Care unit beds to allow for Transplantation needs in local Hospitals?
• Are there sufficient Transplant Surgeons, Nurses and other Transplantation staff to permit growth in Transplantation numbers?
• Are there Transplant Units under threat of closure?
• Are the medical centres used for renal patients clean? Do staff wash their hands between patients?
• What have you done yourself in the past week to promote the cause of organ donation, carrying the donor card, signing up to the organ donor register and discussing the issue with relatives?
• Do your local politicians understand the issues surrounding Kidney disease – if not can you help to educate them?