The government and NHS England are developing plans for improving the health service and would like to hear the views of people living with long term conditions.
Thank you to those who completed our survey about their experience of being diagnosed with kidney disease and the care you have received. We will share the results with government, to let them know about what improvements need to be made, and publish our submission on our website.
What is the major conditions strategy?
The major conditions strategy will look at how NHS services can provide better treatment, but also how chronic health conditions can be prevented in the first place or stopped from getting worse.
It will focus on six health conditions:
- cancer
- cardiovascular disease
- diabetes
- dementia
- mental ill health
- musculoskeletal disorders.
Although chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not on this list, it is very closely linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Improving identification, prevention and treatment of these conditions will benefit CKD care and vice versa. In addition, government recognise that most people with chronic conditions are living with more than one illness. They want to know how care can be better coordinated and focused on meeting individual needs.
We are concerned that too narrow a focus on the six health conditions listed means other important conditions, such as CKD, may not receive the attention they require.
There are huge opportunities to improve the early identification and treatment of CKD, so that people can live in better health for longer. And, as identified by our Psychosocial Manifesto for example, there are important gaps in support for people with CKD.
Billions are spent each year by the NHS on CKD and millions of people are affected, with numbers likely to grow over the next decade. Any strategy to address chronic conditions must include action on CKD.
Help us campaign for better CKD care by completing our survey
Thank you for your support in completing Kidney Care UK's major conditions strategy survey. We will submit our response to government by 27 June 2023, as well as publishing it on our website.
The major conditions strategy focuses on England, but we will use information received from people across the UK to campaign for better care for everyone in the UK.
