With a General Election on Thursday 4 July, we are calling on the next government to improve care for people in the UK living with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Whichever party wins the election, it is an opportunity to get better support and treatment in place for kidney patients. Kidney Care UK have contacted all political parties to explain why action on CKD is so important and what changes are necessary for everyone to get the care and support they need.
Why the next government must act on CKD
- 7.2 million people in the UK have chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- 70,000 people are currently receiving treatment for kidney failure (on dialysis or with a transplant), including 1,000 children.
- £6.4 billion is the estimated cost to the NHS of CKD in the UK in 2023. Sharp increases in CKD prevalence and cost will continue with an ageing population and projected growth in diabetes and other risk factors such as high blood pressure.
Questions to ask your local MP candidates
Ahead of the election, your local parliamentary candidates will be out and about in your area trying to get your vote. We encourage you to tell them why chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important and what changes you would like to see.
Many may not know very much about CKD, so it's good for them to hear from you about the challenges of living with the condition and what the next government should do to better support kidney patients. We want to encourage all MPs to raise the profile of kidney disease at the highest levels of government.
Here are some suggested questions you may like to ask your local candidates.
- Early diagnosis can delay progression of kidney disease and keep people healthier for longer. Almost two out of three people with a high chance of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) are not told of their risk. How would you make sure everyone knows about CKD and more cases are spotted early?
- Kidney disease can be difficult to live with and one in three people with CKD develop depression, yet kidney patients cannot get the mental health support they need. Would you work to make sure the NHS meets people’s mental health needs as well as physical health?
- There are lots of extra costs that come with kidney disease, like higher energy costs and, in England, prescription charges. What steps would you take to achieving a fairer system, in which people are not financially penalised for being ill?
- People from Black and South Asian communities are more likely to develop kidney disease and, because there are not enough suitable organs available, wait longer for a kidney transplant. Would you commit to working to build trust and capacity in the NHS and improving the health of everyone in our society?
- A kidney transplant is considered the gold standard of treatment for kidney failure. Around 5,700 people are waiting for a kidney transplant in the UK and every week five patients die needing a transplant. Could I rely on you to raise the profile of organ donation if you were elected?
If you would like to email your candidate, you can look up a list of candidates’ email addresses for your local area.
Keep us informed – if you speak to a candidate about CKD or receive a response to
your email please let us know what they said by emailing [email protected]. Thank you!
Have you registered to vote?
You must register to vote by 11:59pm on 18 June 2024 to vote in the General Election.
If you’re not sure whether you’re registered to vote, you can check by contacting your local Electoral Registration Office.
What are we calling for the government to do?
- Increase early identification and access to treatment for those with kidney disease. Almost two out of three people with a high chance of developing CKD are not told of their risk. We want more people to get early care and support that can help delay CKD progression.
- Ensure equal access to mental health and social care support. Kidney disease is difficult to live with and one in three people with CKD develop depression. Many kidney patients also need support with things like housing and welfare benefits. We want acknowledgement of these wider needs and access to the right support at the right time.
- Remove the financial burden of kidney disease – it is not fair that living with CKD can come with lots of extra costs, like prescription charges, travelling to hospital and running medical equipment at home. We want reform of the unfair prescription charging system and fair reimbursement for energy and dialysis travel costs.
- Support all communities to improve kidney health and end inequalities – some groups in our society are hit harder by CKD and we want everyone to get the care they need. People from Black and South Asian communities are more likely to develop kidney disease and, because there are not enough suitable organs available, wait longer for a kidney transplant.
- Enable more life-saving transplants – we want more resources to tackle the transplant waiting lists, which have not recovered from Covid-19. A kidney transplant is considered the gold standard of treatment for kidney failure. Around 5,700 people are waiting for a kidney transplant in the UK and every week five patients die needing a transplant.