CKD affects around 3.5 million people in the UK and together the organisations aim to raise awareness of the condition in five areas with a high prevalence of CKD and high levels of fuel poverty within Nottingham, Coventry, Leicester, Bolton and the North East.
Kidney Care UK and E.ON Next also aim to increase understanding of and signups to E.ON Next’s Priority Services Register (PSR) so customers living with the condition can access extra support through specially trained Vulnerability Teams, including direct assistance with energy bills and other help available through Kidney Care UK.
Extra support for customers through the PSR and Kidney Care UK services
The PSR is a free service which is available to customers of all energy suppliers and aims to support people who may be vulnerable through factors such as age, health or disability. Once signed up, customers on the PSR can access a range of services, such as being given priority if their energy supply is interrupted, nominating a family member or carer to look after their energy account, and extra measures to help ensure customers feel secure and reassured about their energy supply and bills.
Ramona Vlasiu, Chief Operating Officer of E.ON Next, said: “We know that these are particularly challenging times for many people as the cost-of-living crisis continues. People living with health conditions such as chronic kidney disease need additional support and it is vital that they know that we are here to help them.
“Since 2019, our E.ON Next Energy Fund has provided more than £10 million worth of support for our most-in-need customers and we are pleased to work with Kidney Care UK to help spread awareness of the extra assistance available to kidney patients.”
Laurie Cuthbert, Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at Kidney Care UK, added: “Our partnership with E.ON Next will deliver tangible results and we are aiming to reach more than 250,000 vulnerable kidney patients. We are excited to raise awareness of our financial and psychosocial support services, as well as generating a greater number of PSR sign ups to enable people to gain the extra support they need.
“It is important for kidney patients, particularly those on dialysis, to be signed up to the PSR, so that they are forewarned and prioritised in the event of a planned or unplanned disruption. In parallel, we will also be raising greater awareness of CKD and supporting thousands more disadvantaged patients in targeted areas of high deprivation at a time when this is more important than ever.”
At E.ON Next, vulnerable customers receive priority support from dedicated teams of Energy Specialists as well as signposting to external agencies such as StepChange, Citizens Advice and Energy Advice Scotland to help ensure customers get the help they need.
