Renal Disease

kidneysBackground

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)
 
NHS Wales faces the challenge of responding to a growing demand for renal services in the face of an ageing population and finite resources, together with a need to ensure equity and continuity of services.
 
If you are looking for information from a patient's perspective on Kidney Failure or Kidney Transplants visit the pages of NHS Direct Wales using the links alongside.
 

 

Policy Context 

The Welsh Assembly Government’s renal policy is aimed at improving the quality of care for people with or at risk from renal disease. The key policy document supporting this aim is Designed to Tackle Renal Disease 2007 which is part of the Government’s efforts to achieve its vision for world class health and social care service as set out in Designed for Life, 2005.

Services 

Service Planning

Two Welsh Renal Networks (North and South Wales) were set up in early 2008 to support the planning and provision of adult Renal Services for the population of Wales. 
 
In 2009  the Minister for Health and Social Services agreed the establishment of a single Welsh Renal Managed Clinical Network. In this new structure there will be a single Network Board which is multi-purpose and which replaces the current Renal Advisory Group and current two Renal Networks Boards 
A Strategic Framework for 2008-11 has been drafted to set out the how Services can be improved and to detail what are the outcomes expected from implementation of the Designed to Tackle Renal Disease NSF.

What is the NHS in Wales doing about Renal Disease?

Historically, the focus of renal service development has been on the provision of renal replacement therapy (RRT), rather than on a balanced approach covering the whole spectrum from prevention through to palliative care. Services therefore need to change. (Source: Designed to Tackle Renal Disease in Wales: 2007)
 
The standards in the National Service Framework describe the services and facilities that patients should expect and covers all aspects of the disease pathway, emphasising patient centred care and multidisciplinary team working.
 

Prevention of Renal Disease 

There will be more emphasis on prevention of renal disease before it occurs. Lifestyle advice such as that given through the national Health Challenge Wales campaign seeks to promote health and prevent Kidney Disease.

Early detection of renal disease when it does occur

Proactive action to limit the progression of the disease can follow effective detection in at risk populations. 

For example patients with diabetes whose blood sugar is poorly controlled are at increased risk of developing renal disease. Levels of blood sugar control are identified which, if applied will reduce the incidence of renal disease in this group. (Source: Designed to Tackle Renal Disease)

Improved Access to all elements of diagnosis and treatment


Specialised care from Multi Disciplinary Teams 

Improved availability of organs for transplant

Services organised for dialysis as close to home as possible 

Patient forum events are taking place across Wales at every renal unit in order to allow patients to comment and contribute to the development of the new dedicated renal transport service in Wales. 

Better designed and better planned renal services

The All-Wales Renal Network will plan and develop services on a Wales-wide basis, helping to improve access and care for patients. It will formally bring together the Renal Advisory Group and the North and South Wales Renal Networks.
 
 

 Initiatives/Programmes 

 Sources of Data 

The General Medical Services Contract  Quality and Outcomes Achievement Data measures how GP practices are delivering on the contract.and makes it easier to monitor long-term conditions including Chronic Kidney Disease.

NHS Blood and Transplant  reports provide information about kidney donor, transplant list and transplant activity for all UK kidney transplant centres. Data on median waiting time to transplant and cold ischaemia time for each centre are also presented. The information is based on data from the UK Transplant Registry maintained by NHS Blood and Transplant.

Resources/Publications