The Chancellor has made the latest Budget announcement in Parliament. What does the Spring 2024 Budget mean for people with kidney disease?
At Kidney Care UK, we’re interested to see how the NHS productivity plan, including improving the NHS app and having paperless processes in hospitals, can improve care. It’s vital that these support better identification, monitoring and seamless continuity of care for people with CKD.
However, we’re disappointed to see that there is still no commitment to develop a social tariff for energy to provide adequate support with costs for vulnerable customers, or proposals to scrap the outdated and unfair prescription charges system in England.
While the extension of the Household Support Fund is welcome, it still falls far short of the support needed by people living with kidney disease across the UK.
Since the cost of living crisis began, Kidney Care UK has seen demand for our services sky rocket, particularly relating to emotional support, money and energy advice, financial assistance and help accessing fuel and food bank vouchers.
In 2023 we saw an increase of 158% (compared to 2020), in applications for heating and utility bill support. We also delivered 1,828 of our free telephone counselling sessions, for people who were struggling to cope. This was an increase of 32% compared to the previous year.
Short term, temporary fixes simply do not solve these problems; we need to see long term, sustainable and practical support put in place.
Charities should not be footing the bill; we need less talk and more action to ensure that no one with kidney disease is left out of pocket in order to stay alive.
If you need financial, emotional or practical support – we are here. Find out more on our Get support information hub.