Kidney Care UK’s latest report ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ presents the findings of our most recent survey of 860 kidney patients across the UK. It describes the impact of Covid-19 on kidney patients and illustrates very clearly the very significant challenges that people are facing. We would like to thank everyone who completed the survey. Your help is invaluable in helping us develop evidence-based recommendations for action that, if implemented, would help to get kidney patients the care and support they need.
Many of the challenges that people shared were similar to those highlighted by the report we carried out in May, when shielding was still in place. But now of course, advice to shield has paused along with much of the support that went with it. Many people are returning to work, and schools and colleges are reopening. We heard how some people are welcoming this, but others are still very anxious and it is vital that support is in place to help the most vulnerable.
So how are we going to use this report to try and get all kidney patients the support they need during the Covid outbreak? We have been sharing our report and its recommendations far and wide with individuals and organisations who have a role to play in the Covid response. This includes unions, healthcare leaders and government agencies like the Health and Safety Executive. We have urged them to consider the priorities and unmet needs of kidney patients when putting in place their policies and delivering services.
And of course we are doing everything we can to get the voice of kidney patients heard by policy makers and parliamentarians.
We believe it is vital every MP understands the challenges faced by people most vulnerable to Covid and we would love your support to help us achieve this. Letters to MPs from individual kidney patients and their families would really help get the urgency of the message across.
We have drafted a suggested letter which you can download by clicking on the 'related documents' box on the right of this page. You may like to adapt this template to your own circumstances, or you could write your own letter outlining how Covid-19 has impacted you and what you think needs to be done to better support kidney patients. It’s usually best to tell your own story in your own words.
Contact details for your MP can be found on the Parliament Website. It is important that you write to the MP for your own constituency and include your full postal address.
It would be very helpful if you could let us know what you have written and the response you receive. You can do this either by emailing us at [email protected], or writing to us at Kidney Care UK, 3 The Windmills, St Mary's Close, Turk Street, Alton GU34 1EF
If you would like to learn more or get more involved in our work please do get in touch via [email protected]
Thank you for all your help and support – together we can make a difference!
