Policy updates

Kidney Care UK has joined the British Heart Foundation and others in calling for a dedicated Cardiovascular Disease Action plan as part of the government's 10-year plan for the NHS in England, in order to drive action to address cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, which include kidney disease.

The World Health Assembly, the decision-making body for the World Health Organisation (WHO) will be debating whether to make kidney health a priority at its May 2025 meeting. Help ensure this kidney care resolution is passed by signing and sharing a petition in support.

The Welsh Parliament Health and Social Care Committee have published a new report, ‘Supporting people with chronic conditions’. Kidney Care UK submitted evidence to the report highlighting the challenges that people with kidney disease face.

A full report of Kidney Care UK’s Patient Advisory Group (PAG)'s discussion session about the NHS 10-year plan for England has been submitted to the team working to develop the plan, to help them understand the views and experiences of people with kidney disease.

Our submission to the NHS's consultation of organisations representing NHS users explained the changes we want to see to make sure people with kidney disease receive better treatment and care. The consultation will help shape the government's 10-year plan for the NHS in England.

Kidney Care UK is working hard throughout the UK to campaign for the improvement of social and emotional (psychosocial) support for people with kidney disease. By completing our five-minute survey, you will have the opportunity to help us campaign, have your say and let us know your views and experiences.

On 4 December we brought 22 people affected by kidney disease to Parliament for our Organ Donation Parliamentary Reception, held jointly with NHS Blood and Transplant and hosted by Florence Eshalomi MP, who spoke about her mum’s 11 years on dialysis.

At Kidney Care UK we believe that everyone with a long-term condition must have equal access to the mental health and social (psychosocial) care support they need.

Kidney Care UK believe that everyone should be able to access the medication they need to stay well, without worrying about whether, or not, they can afford it.

Everyone should be able to access the medication they need to stay well, without worrying about whether or not they can afford it. People who live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland do not pay for your prescriptions. In England, people who are not exempt pay £9.90 per item.

A new Kidney Care UK report gives a unique insight in transplant care in the UK in 2024 from the patient viewpoint.

Following the election on 4 July 2024, we are calling on the next government to improve care for people in the UK living with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

We’re calling on the government to review and reform the unjust and outdated prescription charging system to make prescriptions free for everyone living with a long-term condition in England, as they are in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Following campaigning from Kidney Care UK, on 1 February 2024 the Scottish government confirmed the introduction of their first-ever national guidelines for reimbursement for people on home dialysis in Scotland.

A new Kidney Care UK report published today highlights that in Scotland people face an unreliable, inefficient transport service, long travel and waiting times to and from in-centre dialysis and a lack of suitable vehicles and drivers.

A lack of focus on chronic kidney disease (CKD) is putting lives at risk and putting unsustainable pressure on the NHS, according to a Kidney Care UK report, Let’s talk kidneys – opportunities for early intervention in chronic kidney disease.

According to a Kidney Care UK report, one third of home dialysis patients are not receiving any reimbursement from their trusts and less than a third of trusts are reimbursing patients using the appropriate tariff. This is despite the fact that NHS trusts receive funds from NHS England to pay for reimbursements.

Kidney Care UK’s Cost of Staying Alive report issues a stark warning to the Government that thousands of kidney patients’ mental, physical, and financial health is at risk without urgent action.