Fighting for change

Kidney Care UK is working every day to improve the lives of everyone affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD). We make sure the voices of kidney patients are heard by politicians and policy makers, to help them understand the challenges kidney disease can bring.

  • Our research uncovers the facts about kidney patients' lives and identifies variations in standards of care.
  • We use the results of our research to produce policy recommendations for government and the NHS.
  • Our policy work informs our tireless campaigning for improvements in care and support for kidney patients.

Latest policy updates from Kidney Care UK

  • Home dialysis energy reimbursement in Scotland

  • Scottish in-centre dialysis transport: change and improvements urgently required

  • Failure to recognise the seriousness of CKD is costing lives

  • Lack of reimbursement leaves HHD patients left out in the cold
Read more

Current Kidney Care UK campaigns

  • Home dialysis reimbursement: a guide for patients

    We are working towards full, fair and timely reimbursement of the energy costs of kidney disease. From the energy to run a life-maintaining dialysis machine to the cost of transport to dialysis it is not right that people are left out of pocket.

  • Psychosocial health – a manifesto for action and a campaign for change

    Kidney health and psychosocial health go hand in hand. We want more people receive the psychosocial support they need to live with kidney disease. To campaign for effective change we’re using our manifesto for action with you, policymakers and the NHS.

  • Kidney Care UK promoting transplantation and organ donation

    While the aftermath of Covid-19 and stresses on the NHS have meant many more are waiting for a transplant we want to look at, break down and break through the barriers to transplantation.

Campaigning for kidney patients during the pandemic

It is hard to overestimate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the health, psychological wellbeing, finances and daily lives of many people with kidney disease. Kidney Care UK played a vital role in making their voice heard by policy makers.

Our policy and campaigning work is underpinned by key principles, which we believe are the starting point for people with kidney disease receiving the care and support they need.

  • The impact of kidney disease must be acknowledged by NHS policy makers and government in service planning and funding.
  • Access to diagnosis, treatment and support should be equitable. Kidney disease should not result in financial hardship or social exclusion.
  • Kidney care and treatment should be tailored to each person’s needs and what matters most to them. It is ‘whole person care’.

Kidney Care UK Brexit campaign success

From 2016 to 2020, we worked to ensure that kidney patients from the UK would still be able to access free, reciprocal dialysis treatment when travelling in Europe.
Find out about the reciprocal healthcare for dialysis patients