Ifyouareanewreader,welcome!OurmonthlyIn Touche-newsletterisyourgotosourceforthelatest updatesfromtheNationalKidneyFederation
Whetheryou’reapatient,familymembera healthcareprofessionalorasupporter,this newsletterisdesignedtokeepyouinformedand connected
Eachmonth,wesharethelatestupdatesintherenal world,highlightupcomingeventsandcampaigns andprovideupdatesontheworkwe’redoingto supportkidneypatientsacrosstheUK.
You’llalsofindopportunitiestogetinvolved, whetherthroughfundraisingorsimplytohelpraise awareness
Thankyouforsupportingourcharity,wehopeyou enjoythisissue!
Allthebest, TheNationalKidneyFederation
JoinusonWednesday13thMayat5pmfora webinartohelpyoufeelmoreconfidentmanaging yourline,whilekeepingupwithyourdaytoday activities.
We’llcoveressentialtipsonkeepingyourlineclean andsafe,reducingtheriskofinfection,and handlingeverydaysituationssuchaswashing, dressing,travellingandstayingactive You’llalso hearhelpfuladvicefromhealthcareprofessionals andinsightsfrompatientswhoaresuccessfully managingtheirdialysisalongsidedailylife.
Whetheryou’renewtodialysisorhavebeen managingitforsometime,thissessionwillprovide reassurance,practicalguidanceandthe opportunitytolearnhowothersaremaintaining theirindependence.
Secureyourplaceforthisonlineevent: www.kidney.org.uk/Event/nkf-webinar-series
DISCOVERTHENKFYOUTUBECHANNEL
DidyouknowtheNationalKidneyFederationhasa YouTubechannelpackedwithhelpfulvideosfor kidneypatients,familiesandhealthcare professionals?
Fromexpert-ledwebinarsandpatientstoriesto practicaladviceonlivingwellwithkidneydisease, there’ssomethingforeveryone.
Watch,learnandstayinformedanddon’tforgettosubscribe: www.youtube.com/@nationalkidneyfederation5995/videos
Catchupontopicslike:
Dietandkidneyhealth
Dialysisandtreatmentoptions
Patientexperiences
Latestupdatesandwebinars
Inthehoursbeforeakidneytransplant,the surgicalteamwillaskyoutosignaconsent form.Thisdocumentconfirmsthatyou understandtheprocedure,includingitsrisks andpossiblecomplications.Although discussingtheseriskscanbeunsettling,itisan essentialpartofensuringyouarefully informed.
Beforeheadingtotheoperatingtheatre,nurses willgiveyoupremedications.Theseusually includesteroidsandimmunosuppressantsto reducetheriskofrejection,alongwith antibioticstohelppreventinfection.Each transplantcentrehasslightlydifferent protocols.Whenyouarriveintheanaesthetic room,theanaesthetistwillexplaintheirrole beforeputtingyoutosleep.Onceyouare unconscious,theyinsertmonitoring“lines”into aveinandarterytomanagefluidsand medicationsduringsurgery.Thisstagetypically lastsaround30minutes.
Youarethenmovedtotheoperatingtheatre, wherethewholeteamintroducesthemselves andcompletestheWHOpreoperative checklist,confirmingthedetailsofyour operationandhighlightinganyimportant considerations.
Akidneytransplantoperationusuallytakestwo tothreehoursandinvolvesatleasttwo surgeons Eachprocedurevariesbasedonthe patient’sanatomyandwhetherthisisafirstor subsequenttransplant.Generally,thesurgeon makesanincisionjustabovetherightgroin andmovesthebowelasidetoreachthemajor bloodvesselsatthebackoftheabdomen. Contrarytocommonbelief,yourownkidneys areusuallyleftinplace.
Thesurgeonthenconnectsthedonorkidney’s veinandarterytoyouriliacveinandartery usingveryfinesutures Somedonorkidneys havemultiplevesselsthatrequireadditional connections.
Oncetheclampsarereleasedandblood beginstoflowthroughthenewkidney,the teamattachestheureter thetubethat carriesurine toyourbladderandinsertsa smallstenttosupporturineflowduringearly healing Afterward,theabdominallayersare carefullyclosed
Youwillwakeupintherecoveryroomwith painreliefalreadyadministered.Youwill haveacathetertodrainurineandIVlinesin yourneckandhand Somecentresperform animmediateultrasoundtocheckthe kidney.Feelinggroggyforseveralhoursis normal,andonceyoureturntotheward,you canusuallyeatanddrinkunlessadvised otherwise Sometransplantedkidneysbeginworking immediately,whileotherstakehoursordays. Thisdelay,called“delayedgraftfunction,”is commonandusuallynotacausefor concernaslongasbloodflowisgood Kidneyfunctionismonitoreddaily,andin rarecases,youmayneedtoreturnto theatre.
Ifrecoveryissmooth,mostpatientsstayin hospitalforfivetosevendays,thoughthis varies.KidneytransplantationintheUKis highlysuccessfulandcanofferarenewed qualityoflife.It’simportanttoacknowledge thegenerosityofdeceaseddonorsandtheir families,whosedecisionsmake transplantationpossible.
BESTFOOTFORWARDCHALLENGE
Theenergyandcommitmentofouramazing#KidneyStruttersison fulldisplayonceagainthisyear.
Peoplefromallbackgroundshavebeensteppingupthroughoutthe month,hittingtheirtargets,trackingtheirprogress,andencouraging oneanothereverystepoftheway.
Together,you’vealreadyraisedanoutstanding£6,100andcounting!Everysteptakengoesfar beyondanumber,itrepresentsrealdedicationtosupportingkidneypatientsacrosstheUK
Ahugethankyoutoeveryonetakingpart,aswellasthefriendsandfamilieswhoare supportingandsponsoringalongtheway.Becauseofyou,wecancontinuetoprovidefree patientservicesandcampaignforbettercareforthoselivingwithkidneydisease.
Let’skeepthemomentumstrongaswestrideconfidentlyintothesecondhalfofthechallenge!
Behindeverycharitychallengesignup,there’sareason.Thisis Lesley’s:
“IdecidedtofundraisebecausemysonTomhadalivingdonor kidneytransplant4yearsagowithakidneyfromhissister Tegan.
Iusedyourwebsitewhenhewasfirstdiagnosedwithkidney failuretohelpwithrecipes,foodhecouldeatandotheradvice.
Mywalkingisgoingwell,40,000stepssofarandI’vebeaten myfundraisingtarget.Hereisaphotoofmeonmyfirstwalkof thechallenge,andalongwithTomatthebeginningofApril, andaphotoofTomwithhissisterTeganwhodonatedher kidney.”
TakeinspirationfromLesley,setyourowngoal,andmake everystepmatter.
Byjoiningthechallenge,you’llbehelpingtofundfreesupport servicesforkidneypatientsandtheirfamilies,providingadvice, emotionalsupport,andpracticalguidanceatatimewhenit’s neededmost.Yourstepswillmakeareal,life-changing difference
Not taking part but still want to show your support?
You can donate via our Best Foot Forward Challenge JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/bestfootforward2026
WhyjointheNKF?
Supportvitalpatientservices yourmembershiphelpsfundourfreeHelpline,Peer Support,andadvocacyacrosstheUK Receiveexclusivememberbenefits
Whatyouget
10%OFFVoucherDiscountonselectitemsintheNKFonlineshopplusexclusive memberonlydiscountdays. InvitestospecialNKFeventsanddiscountedentrytoourAnnualEvent. Earlynoticeofupcomingsales,campaigns,eventsandmore
Yourmembershiphelpsdosomuch
KeepourHelplinerunning-theNKFHelplineisalifelinefor thousandsofpatients.Manycallwhentheyneed immediatehelp,guidanceorjustsomeonewho understands.Membershipdonationshelpensurethisfree serviceremainsavailable
Fundeducationalsupport-ourlibraryofkidneyhealth leaflets(PIF-certified)stayscurrentandfreeforpatients, renalunits,andGPs.Yourmembershiphelpsuscreateand distributetheseresourcesnationwide.
Advocateforbettercareandpolicy—withmember supportwecampaignforimprovedkidneycare,influence policy,andpushforaccessibletreatmentsacrosstheUK. SupportlocalKidneyPatientAssociations(KPAs) your contributionhelpssustainover50KPAsacrosstheUK, strengtheninglocalsupportnetworksandpatientvoices
Together, we can bring hope and support to kidney patients and their families across the UK. Join now https://bit.ly/nkfmembership
Ifyoulivewithkidneydiseaseandusedigitaltools—apps,wearables,orpatientportals—to helpmanageyourcare,yourvoicecanhelpshapethefutureofkidneycaredigitalhealth.
TheNationalKidneyFederationissupportinganewUCLstudycalledUnderstandingDigital HealthEngagementinKidneyCare:AnInterviewStudy,whichaimstofindouthowpeoplewith kidneydiseaseusethesetools,whathelpsorhinderstheiruse,andhowtheyfitintoeveryday care
UCLteamofresearchersarelookingforadultsaged18oroverwhohavebeendiagnosedwith CKDstages1–5andwhoareabletogiveinformedconsent.Takingpartinvolvesashortonline enrolmentsurveyandasingle30–45minuteonlineorphoneinterviewtalkingaboutwhereyou gethealthinformation,whatinfluencesyourdecisionstostart,continue,orstopusingdigital healthtools,andhowtheyaffectyourkidneycareroutine
Participantswillreceivea£15Amazonvoucherasthanksfortheirtimeandimportantinsights. TheresearchersatUCLHealthInformatics,ledbyPhDcandidateIrinaOsovskayaandProfessor HenryPotts,willuseyourfeedbacktoimprovehowdigitaltoolsaredesigned,introduced,and usedinkidneycare
Ifyouareinterestedinhavingyourexperiencecounted,followthebelowdetailsorcontact thestudyteamviairina.osovskaya.14@ucl.ac.uk https://redcap.link/DigitalHealthInKidneyCare Ifyouwouldliketotakepartinthestudy,pleasecontacttheaboveby1June2026.
Fromtheperspectiveofpatientsandfamilymembers,KidneyResearchUKaimstoidentifykey uncertaintiessurroundingdialysis.
Thesurveywilltakenolongerthan10minutes.Noidentifiablepersonaldatawillbecollected.
Ifyouareadialysispatientand/orfamilymember, pleasefollowtheQRcodebelowtoaccessthesurvey.
WearepleasedtosharethatMyKidneyHouse, anewwebsitecreatedtosupportpeopleliving withIgAnephropathy(IgAN),isliveintheUK. DevelopedbyCSLVifor,thisdedicatedonline resourceofferspatients,families,andcarersa spacetolearnmoreaboutIgANandtoaccess toolsthatcanhelpthemfeelmoreinformed andsupportedthroughouttheirjourney.
Visitthewebsite: www.mykidneyhouse.co.uk/iganephropathy/nephropathy
Areliablesourceofinformationandsupport MyKidneyHousehasbeendesignedwiththe needsoftheIgANcommunityinmind.Itbrings togetherclear,accessibleinformationabout thecondition,helpingpeoplebetterunderstand whatIgANis,howitmayprogress,andwhat dailymanagementcanlooklike Thewebsite includes:
UnderstandingIgANephropathy:Easy-tofollowinformationonthesignsandsymptoms ofIgAN,howitaffectsthekidneys,andthe rangeofmanagementapproachesavailable topatients.
GuidanceonlivingwellwithIgAN:Practical lifestyleadvicecoveringdiet,exercise,and emotionalwellbeing—recognisingthatIgAN affectsfarmorethanjustkidneyfunction.
Downloadabletoolsandresources:Asuiteof supportivematerialsdesignedtohelppatients feelmoreconfidentandorganisedin managingtheirhealth,including:
MyIgANJournal-tohelptracksymptoms anddailywellbeing
Supportingpatientseverystepoftheway
TheaimofMyKidneyHouseistoempower peoplelivingwithIgANbygivingthema resourcetheycantrustonethatoffers practicaladviceandtoolstohelpthemtake anactiveroleinmanagingtheircondition. CSLViforhasdevelopedthesitein collaborationwithexpertsandguidedby patientexperiencetoensuretheinformation isclear,relevant,andhelpfulforthose affected.
Helpingthecommunitystayconnected
Weencourageourcommunityandpartner organisationstoexploreMyKidneyHouse andtoshareitwidelysothatmorepatients andfamiliescanbenefitfromtheresources available.Byraisingawarenessofthisnew platform,wecanhelpensurethatnobody livingwithIgANfeelsunsupportedoralone.
https://shorturl.at/Ssw9V
MyDiscussionGuide-ahelpfultoolfor preparingformedicalappointmentsand enablingmoreproductiveconversations withhealthcareteams
https://emea.focusvision.com/survey/selfserve/4250/260400?list=1&CKD=$CKD
