Kidney Research UK

The National Kidney Research Fund to review publication of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Renal Services

Following the issue of the Department of Health's News Release - Informed Patients Means Better Kidney Care -The National Kidney Research Fund is looking forward to reviewing the publication of the NSF for renal services and welcomes its intended benefits for people with kidney disease.

With more than 30,000 people in the UK having kidney failure, the Fund has long recognised the need for a NSF in renal services and hopes that its implementation will be a major step forward for people with kidney disease. The Health Secretary John Reid highlights in the news release Informed Patients Means Better Kidney Care that the 10-year plan will be 'patient centred, improve standards and provide patients with the information and support that they require in order to be full partners in their care.'

The Fund's Chief Executive Charles Kernahan said. " Today's announcement of the first steps to be taken in the implementation of the renal NSF looks to be the most important development in respect of renal policy in recent years and I look forward to reviewing the publication so that we are in a position to offer further comment.

"The standards outlined in the Department of Health's news release aim to reduce the variation of treatment that is sometimes referred to as the 'postcode lottery' and give patients access to more information and choice. The news release also highlights that the NSF will aim to address health inequalities, for example in 'at risk' people from South Asian and African Caribbean communities, where renal disease is 3-5 times more likely to develop.

"We look forward to seeing the NSF plan that the News Release summarises, in order to learn more about the necessary structures for the implementation to proceed effectively and hope that it will be promising news for people with kidney disease today and in the future."

The Department of Health add that they are working with the NHS Modernisation Agency and others to develop pilots that will support the underpinning programme and modernisation agenda to implement this NSF. This includes redesigning the workforce and re-designing care plans for partnership and choice.

Charles Kernahan continued. "We are also keen to see the publication of Part Two of the plan: Prevention and End of Life Care, which the Department of Health have highlighted will follow." We hope that this will further address the support of the many more patients with early stage renal disease, or who are in 'risk groups' where the onset of renal disease can be prevented."

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