Press Release On this page you will find the latest press releases from the renal world. The content you will read are the views of the author and not always the views of the NKF. Vulnerable Patients – COVID-19 As the government makes changes to the guidelines on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19, people are starting to think about venturing out of the comfort and safety of their own home. The National Kidney Federation (NKF) is selling highly visible lanyards so other members of the public are aware that the person wearing this is highly vulnerable and to be considerate with social distancing. The wearer will be able to clip a small hand sanitiser on the lanyard if they wish. Andrea Brown, Chief Executive of National Kidney Federation, said: “This is a very frightening time not just for kidney patients but for all vulnerable people. There are over 2.2 million people shielding in the UK alone. We have many kidney patients phoning our helpline for advice and support and many patients comment about their fear of taking steps to venture outdoors. We are hoping that by wearing this simple lanyard and raising public awareness about them, it will help many feel less anxious about going outdoors.’’ Organ donation law change to come into effect in England on 20 May WORKSOP, ENGLAND, May 20 – From 20 May 2020, the new law will be implemented in England and organ donation will move to a system of deemed consent (or ‘opt out’), known formally as Max and Keira’s law. Under the new law, all adults in England will be considered as having agreed to donate their organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate (known as ‘opting out’) or are one of the excluded groups. Those excluded will be people under 18, those who lack the mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take the necessary action; people who have lived in England for less than 12 months or who are not living here voluntarily and those who have nominated someone else to decide on their behalf. Even with the changes coming into effect, families will still be involved before any organ or tissue donation goes ahead. There is no deadline for recording your decision to opt out and you are free to register your choice at any time. This new system of consent for organ and tissue donation is a significant step to helping the 5,200 people in England desperately waiting for a life-saving, or life-enhancing, transplant. Andrea Brown, Chief Executive of National Kidney Federation, said: “People are dying every single day waiting for a transplant. Around 80% of those waiting for a transplant need a kidney. The National Kidney Federation have been helping to campaign for a change in the organ donation law for a very long time. The introduction of Max and Keira’s Law is such an important step forward and will transform so many people’s lives who are living with kidney disease. We speak to patients daily, who have been waiting and hoping for a change in the organ donation law, as they have been on the waiting list for a transplant for a long time. This change will bring hope to a lot of kidney patients throughout England. Alongside the commitment of public education, support from the NHS and NHS Blood and Transplant, we’re looking forward to seeing more life-changing transplants. It’s important everyone has a conversation with their families about organ donation – so your loved ones know your decision.” The COVID-19 pandemic means that the number of potential donors has been reduced. Donation is not being explored if patients have COVID-19 as the risk of transmission to recipients is currently considered too high. The simplest way to record a decision is on the NHS Organ Donor Register website. However, it is also possible to tell a friend or family member or record it in writing. Type 2 Diabetics miss out on a recommended annual kidney test which can signal irreversible damage that may lead to fatal complications, survey reveals. - https://napp.co.uk/secondary_news/type-2-diabetics-miss-out-on-a-recommended-annual-kidney-test-which-can-signal-irreversible-damage-that-may-lead-to-fatal-complications-survey-reveals/ Support the National Kidney Federation This March in Honour of World Kidney Day The National Kidney Federation is there to ensure that all kidney patients and their loved ones lead fulfilled lives with quality care and choice. In addition to our brand new #KidneysMatter campaign, in honour of World Kidney Day, this March we have teamed up with My Favourite Voucher Codes in their charity poll where we’re up for winning 20% of their monthly profits. My Favourite Voucher Codes isn’t your average voucher code website. They’re committed to helping their users save money, but they’re also committed to raising money for good causes. Since 2012, they have raised over £57,000 for hundreds of charities through their monthly poll. This March, the National Kidney Federation are delighted to be one of four charities taking part. How is the Money Raised? My Favourite Voucher Codes is home to thousands of deals from the UK’s biggest retailers, and every time a user makes a purchase through them, the site makes a small commission at no extra cost to the consumer. It’s through this that the site is able to donate 20% of their profits to one lucky charity each month. In terms of the charity poll itself, the site nominates four charities to take part, who all compete for votes by visitors to the site. This is done via social media, on site promotion and general word of mouth. As a result of this friendly competition, at the end of the month, the charity with the most votes wins the donation. How Can I Vote? Voting for the National Kidney Federation is incredibly easy and completely free to do. From the 1st March, head over to My Favourite Voucher Codes where you’ll find the poll on the right hand side. Simply select the NKF and click the red button to register your vote. You can even share the poll via your social media to encourage your friends and family to vote too. There’s no need to sign up to anything, and you don’t even have to use any codes for your vote to count. However, if you’re looking to make an online purchase, it’s worth taking a look at what deals are available, as any codes used contribute to the final amount donated to the winning charity. While World Kidney Day is on the 12th March, the charity poll is running right up until the 31st March, so there’s plenty of time for you to cast your vote and get your friends to join you. The National Kidney Federation exists solely because of donations from our generous supporters, so a donation from My Favourite Voucher Codes will help us continue our work providing support to kidney patients and their loved ones across the UK. Cast your vote today! Thank you!