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
OurnextwebinarisonWednesday8thJulyat5pmcalledMemoryLossandFoggyHeadswith CKD,presentedbyDrVeenaReddy,ConsultantNephrologistatSheffieldKidneyUnit,wewillbe lookingattheeffectsofdialysisandkidneydiseaseingeneralonmemorylossandfoggyheads.
Moredetailswillbeannouncedsoon
Toregisteryourfreeplace,pleasefillintheregistrationformonourwebsitehere: hwww.kidney.org.uk/Event/nkf-webinar-series
WEBINARRECORDING
Thankyoutoeveryonewhoattendedourrecent webinar,"CaringforYourDialysisAccessLineWhile GoingAboutYourDay-to-DayLife."
Wehopeyoufoundthesessionuseful.Ifyoumissedit,orwouldliketowatchitagain,youcan dosousingthelinkbelow.
Fromexpert-ledwebinarsandpatientstoriestopracticaladviceonlivingwellwithkidney disease,there'ssomethingforeveryone.
Watch,learn,andstayinformed—anddon'tforgettosubscribe: www.youtube.com/@nationalkidneyfederation5995/videos
TheKidneyCharitiesTogetherGroup–including theNationalKidneyFederation,Kidney ResearchUK,KidneyWales,KidneyCareUK,PolycysticKidneyDisease(PKD)Charity,Popham KidneySupportandtheUKKidneyAssociationareplanningfor#WorldKidneyDay2027.
We’dlovetohearfromYOUsowecanhelpunderstandwhatthekidneycommunityand healthcareprofessionalssupportingpeoplewithkidneydiseasewouldliketoseemoreofin future.
Surveycloseson22June.YourfeedbackwillhelpuswithourWorldKidneyDay2027activities, reflectingtheprioritiesandneedsofthekidneycommunity.
Completethesurveyhere:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/worldkidneyday27
PRESCRIPTIONCHARGINGPLEASEENTEROURSURVEY HELPSHAPEWORLDKIDNEYDAY2027
TheNKFhavecampaignedformanyyearsforafairersystemofprescriptioncharging.Nowwe arecarryingoutasurveytolearnmoreaboutwhetherpeopleondifferenttreatmentsfortheir kidneydiseasepayfortheirprescriptionmedicines
Shareyourexperienceofprescriptioncharges: www.kidney.org.uk/news/prescription-charges-for-kidney-patients-have-your-say
THENATIONALKIDNEYFEDERATION
APPEARSINBOOKMARKING100YEARSOF
ROYALANDPARLIAMENTARYLEADERSHIP
We’reproudtoannouncetheNKFhasbeen selectedtoappearinMonarchyand Democracy:AHistoryofLeadership,amajor newpublicationmarking100yearsofroyaland parliamentaryleadership.
ProducedbytheHistoryofParliamentin partnershipwithleadingpublisherStJames’s House(SJHGroup),thebookhasofficially launchedtodayinthegroundsofWestminster Abbey,London.
Writtenbyprominentacademicsand award‑winningauthors,includingroyalexperts RobertJobson,RussellMyersandKatieNicholl, thepublicationexplorestheevolving leadershiprolesoftheCrownandParliament andthesocial,politicalandgovernance changesofthepastcentury.
“BeinginvitedtocontributetoMonarchyand Democracy:AHistoryofLeadershipisareal honourfortheNationalKidneyFederation It recognisesnotonlytheimportanceofstrong leadership,butalsothevitalrolecharitiesplay insupportingcommunities,influencingpolicy andimprovinglives.Weareproudtorepresent thevoicesofkidneypatientsacrosstheUK withinsuchasignificantandhistoric publication.”AndreaBrown,ChiefExecutive, NationalKidneyFederation
NKFChiefExecutive,AndreaBrownandHeadof MarketingandFundraising,PeteRevell, attendedalongsideleadersfromacross media,charitableandpubliclife.
www.kidney.org.uk/news/nkf-100-years-ofroyal-and-parliamentary-leadership
VOLUNTEERSWEEK
We'redelightedthatourvolunteer,Pauline,was confirmedasanomineeforaBassetlawCommunity andVoluntaryService(BCVS)VolunteerAwardaspart ofVolunteersWeekandwasinvitedtoattendtheBCVS VolunteerAwardsCeremony!
PaulinevolunteersweeklyintheNKFoffice,providing administrativesupportandalwaysbringspositivity, reliabilityandawillingnesstohelp-nottomentionher showstoppingcakesandbakes!
Pauline’scontributionhelpsusstrengthenour organisationalcapacityandultimatelyhelpstocontinue deliveringvitalservicestothekidneycommunity.
Thankyou,Pauline,foreverythingyoudo.
AVISITTOTHEROYALGARDENPARTY
NKFExecutiveCommitteeMemberandListerAreaKPAViceChair,TarsemPaul,recently attendedaRoyalGardenPartyatBuckinghamPalaceon12May.Tarsemshared:“MywifeandI weredelightedtoattendtheRoyalGardenPartyandbepartofsuchawonderfulevent The programmewasexceptionallywellorganised,makingitatrulymemorableoccasion. Duringtheevent,wealsohadtheopportunitytomeetdoctorsandnurseswhohadrecently returnedfromtheMiddleEast,wheretheyhadbeenprovidingvitalemergencycareanddialysis servicestolocalcommunities.”
Tarsem'sinvitationtoBuckinghamPalacerecognisedhislongstandingcommitmentto supportingrenalpatients,raisingawarenessoforgandonation,particularlywithinethnic minoritycommunities,andhisextensivevolunteeringworkwithbothlocalandnational charities.
KENTKPABOATTRIP
Welaunchedourfirstpatientboattripon Wednesday20thMayandwewillcontinuetorun themuntilSeptember.Alternatingbetween WednesdaysandThursdaystocaterforalldialysis shifts.
Thetripwasfilledwithlaughter,games,prizesand homemadescones,withjam&creamorcream& jam,bothpointsweredebatedfullyandbothtasted delicious!
Somepatientshadagoatsteeringtheboat(under captainsupervisionofcourse).Afterthefeastand thefunandgames,wehadtimetochatandaskthe deeperquestionsandshareourfearsandpersonal struggles,butalsoourwaysofcopingandeven overcoming Patientswerehelpingeachothertonot feelsoalone.Itwasnotintendedtobeatherapy session,butyetweallleftfeelinglighter,knowingwe wereallinthesameboat(punintended).
TheboattripsaresponsoredbyKentKPAthanksto thegenerousdonationsmadebyourlocal communityandpatientfundraisingevents.
LupintaMolina, KentKPAChair
SUBSCRIBETOKIDNEYLIFE
OurSummerissueofKidneyLifeisavailabletoviewonline now!
Ifyouarenotregisteredtoreceiveafreepapercopy,butyou wouldliketo,pleaseemailnkf@kidney.org.ukwithyourpostal addressandwewillsendyouone
Toviewourlatestissueonlinevisit: https://www.kidney.org.uk/News/kidney-life
Asalwaysifyou’dliketoshareyourstorywithusandbe featuredintheKidneyLifemagazine,pleasegetintouchvia kidneylife@kidney.org.uk.
AREYOUAKIDNEYPATIENTINTHE SHEFFIELDAREA?
TRAVELADVICEFORKIDNEYTRANSPLANT
Ifyouhavereceivedakidneytransplant,youwill betakingmedicationstopreventrejectionof yournewkidney Thesemedicinesweakenyour immunesystem,meaningsomevaccinesarenot safeforyou,especiallylivevaccines.However, manyinactivatedvaccinescanstillbesafely given.Alwayscheckwithyourhealthcareteam beforereceivinganyvaccine.
VaccinesYouCanSafelyReceive COVID-19
Cholera(Dukoralonly)
Diphtheria,tetanus,pertussis,polio,Hib, hepatitisB(combinedvaccines)
HepatitisAandB
Humanpapillomavirus(HPV)
Influenza(fluinjection)
Japaneseencephalitis(IXIARO)
Meningococcal
Pneumococcal
Rabies
Shingles(Shingrixonly)
Tetanus/diphtheria/poliobooster
Typhoid(injection)
VaccinesYouMustAvoid(LiveVaccines)
BCG
Chickenpox
Cholera(Vaxchora)
Dengue(Qdenga)
Nasalfluvaccine
Measles,mumps,rubella(MMR)
Oralpolio
Oraltyphoid
Yellowfever
Shingles(exceptShingrix)
Alwayscheckwithyourdoctor,nurse,or pharmacistforthelatesttravelvaccineadvice beforeyourtrip.
MalariaPrevention
Ifyouaretravellingtoamalaria-riskarea,you mayneedpreventivemedication Thechoice dependsonyourdestinationandkidneyfunction. AlwaysconsultyourGP,renalteam,ortravel clinic.
Chloroquine–weeklydose,starting1 weekbeforetravelandcontinuingfor4 weeksafterreturning
Atovaquone/Proguanil–dailytablets, starting1–2daysbeforetravelandfor7 daysafterleavingthearea.
Doxycycline–daily,starting1–2days beforetravelandcontinuingfor4weeks afterreturn.
Mefloquine–weeklydose,starting2–3 weeksbeforetravelandcontinuingfor4 weeksafterreturning.
Note:Somemalariamedicationsmay requireprivateprescriptions Alwaysconfirm thecorrectdosewithyourhealthcare provider.
Torequestthisleafletinfullortoreceive anyofourotherinformationleaflets contactthehelpline–helpline@kidney.org.ukorcall 08001690936
ByAmyPage&LaurenHallSpecialistRenal Pharmacists
TheNationalKidneyFederationcannot acceptresponsibilityforinformation provided.Theaboveisforguidance only.Patientsareadvisedtoseekfurther informationfromtheirowndoctor.
MEETOURNEWFUNDRAISERSUZANNE
OurteamattheNKFcontinuestogrowwiththeappointmentofanewFundraiser
SuzanneRutterjoinedtheteaminMay2026asafull-timeFundraiser,doublingourfundraising teamfromonetotwo.ForthoseofyouwhoknowourHeadofFundraising,PeteRevell,please don’tworry–hehasn’tgoneanywhere!
Suzanne’srolewillcoverallaspectsoffundraising,fromdevelopingnewcorporatecontactsand nurturingcommunityfundraiserstodevelopingfundraisingpartnershipopportunitieswithKPAs andsupportingseasonalcampaignsandappeals–andmuchmore.
ShepreviouslyworkedforanNHScharityforeightyearsandhasahistoryofworkingin journalism,mediaandcommunicationsrolesacrossYorkshire.
Shesaid:“We’reasmallbutmightyteamhereattheNKFandit’sanexcitingtimetojointhe charity.IknowfrommyexperienceworkingincommunicationsandfundraisingrolesfortheNHS theimpactaserioushealthconditionlikeCKDcanhaveonpeople’sphysicalandmentalhealth, andhowcharitiesliketheNKFcanfeellikealifelineforpatientsandtheirfamilies.
“I’mreallylookingforwardtosupportingfundraisersfromacrossthecountrytotakeonsome incredibleandmeaningfulchallenges.Ifyou’vebeenthinkingaboutsigninguptoabucket-list challenge,thisisyoursigntogetintouchwithmenow!I’llbewithyoueverystepoftheway.I’m alsolookingforwardtoinspiringyoutodonatetotheNKF,sowecancontinuetofundthe incrediblethingswedo,especiallyourhelplineandpeersupportservice
“Whetheryou’refromalocalornationalbusinessandwanttosupportourwork,wouldliketo fundraiseforus,orsimplywanttoknowmore,I’dlovetohearfromyou.”
SuzannecanbecontactedviaSuzanne@kidney.org.uk
JOINTHEBESTFOOTFORWARD CHALLENGE!
Ouramazing#KidneyStruttershavebeengoingtheextramile, andthankstotheirdetermination,anincredible£10,400+has alreadybeenraised-andthetotalkeepsclimbing!
EverysteptakenishelpingtheNationalKidneyFederationcontin guidanceforkidneypatientsandfamiliesacrosstheUK.
Oneparticipant,Louis,sharedhisexperience:
"I'velovedbeingpartoftheBestFootForwardChallenge. WhilewalkingaroundLondonandclockingupmysteps,a gentlemanstoppedmetoaskaboutmyT-shirt.Hetooka photoandtoldmehewasgoingtodonatetotheNKF!I've alreadyfarexceededthe72,000-steptarget,andeveryday someonenewcomesforwardtosponsorme."
StorieslikeLouis’showhowasimplewalkcanspark conversations,raiseawarenessandmakearealdifference
There’sstilltimetogetinvolved,butnotformuchlonger!
TheBestFootForwardChallengefinishesattheendofthismonth,makingthisyourlast opportunitytosignup,setapersonalgoalandmakeadifference
Whetheryouchoosetowalk72,000stepsoraimevenhigher,everystridehelpsfundvital servicesthatkidneypatientsrelyon,includinginformationandemotionalsupportwhenthey needitmost.
SignuptodayandreceiveaFREEpairofchallengesockswhenyouraise£10ormore!
Signupnow:www.kidney.org.uk/bff2026
Nottakingpartbutwouldstillliketosupportour#KidneyStrutters?
YoucanhelpusreachevenmorekidneypatientsbydonatingtotheBestFootForward ChallengeJustGivingpage:www.justgiving.com/campaign/bestfootforward2026
Don'tmissyourchancetostepup,makeadifferenceandhelpuscrossthefinishlinestrong beforethechallengeends!
EveryentryhelpstheNationalKidneyFederationmakeadifference,allproceedsfromthedraw gotowardsrunningourhelplineandpeersupportservice,supportingthosewhoneeditmost
Byconfirmingyourentry,youareverifyingthatyouare18yearsofageorover Thankyouforyoursupport,andgoodluck! ��
Pleasenote-youmustbe18orovertoenter,andentriescannotbepurchasedusingacredit cardduetotheGamblingCommisionLaw.
Termsandconditions-Byenteringtheraffle,entrantsagreetobeboundbytheserules.For moreinformationvisitthelinkabove.
WhyjointheNKF?
Supportvitalpatientservices yourmembershiphelpsfundourfreeHelpline,Peer Support,andadvocacyacrosstheUK Receiveexclusivememberbenefits
Whatyouget
10%OFFVoucherDiscountonselecteditemsintheNKFonlineshopplusexclusive 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
Takepartinthebelowsurveybyclickingthebelowlinkorscanningthe
QRcode:
https://emea.focusvision.com/survey/selfserve/4250/260400?list=1&CKD=$CKD
NKF KPA MEMBERS
Currentlythereare54KidneyPatientAssociations(KPAs) whoaremembersoftheNKF Pleasefindthedetails belowoftheKPAsavailableorformoreinformationplease contacttheNKFofficeon01909544999oremail chris@kidney.org.uk.
ChrisTalbot
NKFMembershipDevelopmentLead
IfyouareaKPAthatwouldliketobecomeanNKFmember, pleasecontactchris@kidneyorgukorcall07908845713 WeareproudtosupportKPAsandtobethepatient voiceacrosstheUK.
FindyourlocalKPAtoday: www.kidney.org.uk/kidney-patient-associations
Discoveropportunitiestoshareyourexperienceand supportkidneyresearch.
TheNKFhavecreatedapageonlinewhereyoucan exploreallthecurrentopportunitiestotakepartin studies,surveysandinterviewsrunbyhealthcare professionalsandmedicalstudents
Theseprojectsaimtodeepenunderstandingofkidney diseaseandyourinsightscouldmakearealdifference.
https://shorturl.at/Ssw9V
