Information & Education

There are around 10,000 people with renal disease in Wales and many more at risk from this disease. (Source: Designed to Tackle Renal Disease in Wales: Policy Statement:  Welsh Assembly Government 2007) Renal disease is the reduced ability of the kidney to carry out the following functions in the long-term: Maintain blood pressure; Maintain the correct levels of chemicals in our bodies which, in turn, helps our heart and muscles to function properly; Produce a type of vitamin D that keeps bones healthy; and Produce a substance called erythropoietin, which helps stimulate the production of red blood cells.

Renal disease is often caused by the strain placed on the kidneys by other conditions, most commonly diabetes and high blood pressure. Renal disease is common and mainly associated with ageing. It is estimated that about one in five men and one in four women between the ages of 65 and 74 has some degree of renal disease.

There is no cure for chronic kidney disease, although treatment can slow or halt the progression of the disease and can prevent other serious conditions developing. People with renal disease are known to have an increased risk of a heart attack because of changes that occur to the circulation. Renal disease may cause kidney failure, also known as established renal failure (ERF) or end-stage kidney disease. In this situation, the usual functions of the kidney stops working.

To survive, people with ERF may need to have artificial kidney treatment, called dialysis, or a kidney transplant.  At the end April 2022, there are 1,495 dialysis patients, of which 1,249 are receiving unit-based Dialysis, 246 patients received their dialysis treatments at home. Of this number 100 received home haemodialysis (HHD) and the remainder (146 patients) received peritoneal dialysis (PD). 1,790 living with a functional transplant.

Evidence shows that the population needs for dialysis will grow, adding to the huge burden especially for patients and their families and also to the NHS workforce and resources that are required in supporting the service. Popham Kidney Support can help, patients and their families are not alone, we are a charity based in Swansea which supports everyone effected by kidney disease throughout Wales including adults, children and youths with Renal Failure their families and carers.

Popham Kidney Support – “The right access, for the right patient, at the right time.”

This virtual discussion is a general overview of vascular access, where one of our Peer Mentors, Joseph Townsend asked questions to the Vascular Access Clinical Nurse Specialist team at University Hospital Wales Cardiff. We hope this Q&A will provide an insight into some of the vascular access options available and respond to some perceived ideas people may have.

First Home Therapies Virtual Q&A – Explore and give it a go!

This virtual discussion is a general overview of home therapies, where one of our Peer Mentors, Hayleigh Isaac, shared her personal experience of home hemodialysis with Gail Williams, Lead Nurse of the Welsh Renal Clinical Network, and Joanne Popham, CEO of the Charity.

Please bear in mind that this Q&A is based on personal experiences and is not to be used as a clinical guideline. The opinions provided throughout the discussion and within the document reflect personal views of participants and should by no means be used to change dialysis prescriptions without seeking professional consultation.

We advise all patients to seek approval from their appropriate supervisors and their renal consultants before making any changes to treatment or care.

Virtual conferences brought to you in collaboration between three leading kidney patient support charities, Popham Kidney Support, Kidney Care UK and Kidney Wales and the Welsh Kidney Network.

Please see below all of the patient conferences we have contributed to on a variety of topics for kidney patients and the link to the most recent below.

• Patients Know Best – Understanding and Navigating the Platform  – 23^rd April 2023. Watch here
• Helping Households to Save Money & Reduce Costs – 27^th April 2022. Watch here

Visit Kidney Patient Conference Wales You Tube Chanel to view all previous webinars listed above: Kidney Conference YouTube

Visit Kidney Patient Conference Wales Website for the most UpToDate information: http://kidneypatientconference.wales/

Pregnancy Choices with Kidney disease

Newsletter

Kidney Care UK

https://www.kidneycareuk.org/about-kidney-health/

Renal Association

https://renal.org/

Info Kid

https://www.infokid.org.uk/

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity

Living with Chronic Kidney Disease

Living With Chronic Kidney Disease | Baxter Renal Care (baxterhealthcare.co.uk)

Michelle’s Renal Journey 

Patient Kidney Story with Michelle, a Popham Peer Mentor.