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Kidney Research UK And The Department Of Health Tackles Increasing Burden Of Chronic Kidney Disease The source: www.medicalnewstoday.com Article Date: 08 Mar 2007 Kidney Research UK, today announced a major new research initiative to tackle the growing number of people being diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in the UK, at a special awareness event co-hosted by the Department of Health at the House of Lords. Both organisations are committed to working together to create new partnerships with key healthcare professionals, policy makers and patients to improve the detection of kidney disease and enhance patient-centred care. As part of this initiative Kidney Research UK, in partnership with The University of Leicester and St George's Hospital Trust, has developed studies to investigate and improve the management of CKD in the community, to help ease the ever increasing burden on GP workloads and hospital renal services. Currently one in ten people in the UK have CKD1 and this figure is increasing2; with the number of patients being diagnosed with severe and established kidney disease doubling in the last 10 years.3 This has meant renal specialists and GPs from across the UK are reviewing the way in which CKD is currently diagnosed and treated, with more focus on management within local GP surgeries to tackle the increasing number of renal referrals. These three year innovative, UK-wide, multi-centre Kidney Research UK studies have been developed to test and implement a range of patient quality improvement programmes. If successful the programmes will be used to improve information and training for GPs, enhance quality of care within the community and drive forward new advances in the treatment of CKD outside of the hospital setting. "In the last few years, patients with kidney problems have seen a significant improvement in how their care is provided," commented Dr Donal O'Donoghue, recently appointed National Clinical Director for Kidney Care. "The National Service Framework for Renal Services has resulted in services becoming more patient-centred and responsive. A move to local care will improve this further. The fact that between 5 and 10 percent of the population has chronic kidney disease and this is a major risk factor for cardiovascular problems, means that we must re-examine how care is currently delivered to patients, with primary and secondary healthcare professionals managing this challenge in partnership." World Kidney Day also sees the launch of a new patient DVD, Living with Kidney Disease, produced by Kidney Research UK in collaboration with the British Renal Society (BRS). Presented by Dr Chris Steele from ITV's This Morning, the DVD is available to newly diagnosed patients to help them understand their disease, prevent further damage though diet and lifestyle improvements, and reduce the associated risks of heart attack and stroke. Patients and healthcare professionals can request copies of the DVD by visiting http://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/dvdproject Professor Charles Pusey, Chairman of Kidney Research UK said, "The increasing number of people with kidney disease in the UK poses a real threat, and the challenge lies in the recognition, prevention and effective treatment of the disease in its early stages. There is also an urgent need for more research into the mechanisms of kidney injury, and clinical trials to evaluate new methods of treatment." At the House of Lords, Kidney Research UK continues to celebrate a long-term association with the Department of Health by bringing together key representatives from the renal community, to focus on a number of patient centered initiatives that will work to improve the quality of care for individuals who are at risk from CKD. This valuable partnership between one of the UK's leading kidney charities and the Department of Health has introduced a range of innovative, collaborative and culturally sensitive community projects that tackle health inequalities and focus on delivering improved educational information, lifestyle choices and a stronger more empowered voice for those at risk. About Kidney Research UK Kidney Research UK is the leading UK charity funding research that focuses on the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. The charity also dedicates its work to improving patient care and raising awareness of kidney disease. http://www.kidneyresearchuk.org About Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD), also known as chronic renal failure, leads to permanent loss of kidney function4 and results from damage to the kidney tissue. CKD can progress to established kidney failure either rapidly, over a period of months, or slowly over many years.5 It cannot be reversed, but there are interventions that can slow the development of the disease and improve symptoms. Approximately one in ten people in the UK have CKD. 1 In patients aged over 75 years, CKD is present in one out of two people.6 Renal failure kills more than 7,000 people in the UK every year. 7 About the Quality Improvement (QI) Research Kidney Research UK has established a unique partnership with St George's Hospital Trust and The University of Leicester with support from the Health Foundation and Edith Murphy Foundation to develop, monitor and assess key community-based research initiatives. Eight localities in England have been selected to assist in this study including Salford/Oldham/Bolton, Birmingham, Leicester, North London, South London, Surrey and Kent, each involving 10 GP practices. The project will deliver the evidence base for better primary care led interventions, enhanced quality of care and drive forward new advances in the treatment of CKD within the community and ultimately working to influence the next round of QOF in 2008. About the DVD programme The DVD programme, has been developed by Kidney Research UK and the British Renal Society with support from the Big Lottery Fund, and additional funding from the pharmaceutical companies, Wyeth, Baxter Healthcare Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc and Genzyme UK. A second DVD is currently being produced for those individuals with more advanced kidney disease. DVDs will be available with subtitles in English and audio in English, Bengali, Gujurati, Urdu and Punjabi. The development of this press release has been supported by educational funding from the Department of Health and unrestricted grants provided by Roche pharmaceuticals Ltd and Amgen Ltd for the advancement and support of medical, scientific and patient initiatives. References
Kidney Research UK website. http://www.kidneyresearchuk.org READ THIS ARTICLE ON www.medicalnewstoday.com |
