Kidney Matters

Kidney Matters is the newsletter and Web address for the K.P.A. for all renal patients on C.A.P.D.or haemodialysis, transplant and pre dialysis, who are receiving treatment at the Q.E. or the satellite units.
The newsletter is paid for from the funds that the K.P.A. raise during the year. The purpose of KIDNEY MATTERS is to keep patients and carers informed as to the work of the K.P.A., provide information to patients on different topics, which we hope will be of interest and to provide a link for patients who may feel very isolated due to their condition.
We would welcome your comments and ideas on how we may expand and improve on this and continue to help the 2100 plus patients with renal problems treated at the Q.E.
If anyone would like to contribute an article to the newsletter or the web page. It could be about how you organised a holiday, Ideas on dealing with the condition of renal failure, coping with going back to work, success stories about receiving transplants, and how it changed your life. This would give hope to others who may feel very low at times and that the future looks bleak.
If you send your thoughts to the Editor the address is on the back page of the news letter or on the contacts page, we will include them in future editions.
The Newsletter is posted to all patients once a year when we send out the Annual Raffle tickets. On the other occasions we post it to C.A.P.D. and transplant patients and put copies in each of the dialysis units: Aston, Tipton, Hereford, Kings Norton, Woodgate Valley, Lichfield and the RDU at the Q.E. for patients to collect.
PLEASE look out for them.
Thanks for your support.

Local News

New Patient Information from the Q.E.

If you go to the new section "patient information" you will find a list of patient information leaflets. These have been produced by the Hospital they are free to download or you can obtain copies of them from the renal unit. There are more to come covering C.A.P.D., Medication, Pregnany and Kidney Problems.

Peer Support for Renal Patients

The Hospital, under the supervision of Dr Day, has started a Peer Support Programme for renal patients. The aim is to help patient, who would like to talk to someone who has first-hand experience of renal issues topics such as starting dialysis, being on dialysis, what it’s like to do home dialysis, PD, transplantation or just to talk about being a renal patient.
The Peer Supporters are all renal Patients. They have been fully checked out by the Hospital and given training to help and will treat any conversation with the strictest of confidentiality.
If you would like to talk to someone, just ask your Doctor next time you go to clinic or your dialysis unit, and they will organise it for you.
The Peer Supporters are there to help you and your family and carers.

Blood results at your finger tips

The Q.E. is part of “Renal Patient View” which allows you to view your blood results and transplant list status “on line”. The system is supported by the Department of Health and is a secure web site and can only be accessed by you for your results. If you would like to take up this facility, the forms are at clinics or contact the K.P.A..
It is a very useful addition to the service as your blood results are available about 36 hours after your blood tests. There is also a full explanation as to their meaning. It has an added advantage that should you be away from home and need to see a doctor, you can access your latest results for them to see.
You can see what it is like by going to www.renalpatientview.org and have a look at the demonstration.
If you go to the “links” on the home page you will find a direct link to the web page.

Contact the Clinic for the forms.

K.P.A. Tombola and collection at Sainsbury’s

The K.P.A. has been very generously supported by Sainsburys Walsall for allowing us to have a Tombola and collection in their store on 4th July. It was a very successful day we raised £576. Our thanks must go to the customers at Sainsbuys for their generosity. Also Dawn and her Mum for organising the Tombola, and the members of the committee who turned out to support the day. We will be holding another similar event on 10th December 2011. If anyone would like to help please contact a member of the committee.

Woodgate goes to Weston

On a fine and sunny day 52 Patients and carers set off for a day at Weston-super-mare. It was a very enjoyable outing and everyone had a good time.
Even the tide was in when we got there. A first for most of us visiting Weston, reported Dave Davies. It was particularly good as some of the patients find it very difficult to go on outings on their own, but to go with a party of friends and patients and to be supported by staff is very reassuring.
Everyone is looking forward to the next trip which is to see the Blackpool Illuminations.

Woodgate Valley Dialysis Unit.

TOMBOLA AT SAINSBURYS WALSALL

See the Diary for more details on the following:

Saturday 10th December 2011. If anyone would like to help on the day please contact a member of the committee.

The K.P.A. would welcome more support from patients or carers

The K.P.A. has supported renal patients and the Hospital for over 35 years and it is hoped that this support can continue for many years to come, but we need more support from patients and/or families to enable us to offer ongoing help.
We meet at the Q.E. Hospital on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. There are over 2200 renal patients treated at the Q.E. and we only have at our meeting on average 15 to 20 people attending. So if anyone thinks they might like to help in any way, please consider contacting any of the committee members or just turn up on the night. You will receive a warm welcome and you won’t be pressured into doing anything. Any help will be very much appreciated.
We understand that you are all renal patients and it is sometimes difficult to deal with everyday things without volunteering for something else, but we are all renal patients and carers, so we know the problems.
I hope you will think about the K.P.A. and try to come along and meet us.

Look forward to seeing you.

Nick Flint Chairman

THE PRECIOUS GIFT SERVICE 2012

Sunday 1st July 2012 2pm
This is a very special service of remembrance and of thanks giving.
It is organised by the Donor Family Network.
The organization offers support to families whose relatives have been organ donors.
The service is for both donors and recipients of organs.
See the diary for more details.

K.P.A. Grand Annual Draw Winners

Winners name	Ticket no	Prize	Winners name	Ticket no.	Prize
Mr Barnes, Shrewsbury	35147	£300	Mr J Furness*, Unknown	01751	£5
Mr G. Green, Rednal	48561	£150	Mr R Bishop, Castle Bromwich	00411	£5
Mr Nethersole*, Hereford	27755	£75	Mr R Brooks*, Billesley	04680	£5
Miss R Arnold, Erdington	33221	£5	Mrs J Guy, Darlaston	27244	£5
Mr B Ward, Taunton	29479	£5	Miss S Morris, Leominster	45666	Recipe Book
Mr P Soor*, Handsworth	24451	£5	Mr D Edwards, Lickey	08843	Recipe Book
Mr S Hicken, Solihull	31444	£5	Mrs A Smith, Walsall	24432	Recipe Book
Mr R Holmes*, Tibberton	14226	£5	Mr J Poole, Kingstanding	29677	Recipe Book
Mr L Brown*, Smithwood	49116	£5	Mr G Perrins, Quinton	46191	Recipe Book

*,Indicates prize money donated back to Q.E.H.K.P.A

The winning tickets were drawn by Staff members at the
K.P.A. meeting on 12th January 2011.
All the winners have been notified.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who very generously supported
the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kidney Patients' Association.

The K.P.A. now has a Renal Research Fund.

Due to the recent passing away of Geoff Sharp, the K.P.A. has amalgamated a fund that Geoff ran for many years, The Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Kidney Research Fund. This is now being managed by the Q.E.H.K.P.A. This fund will be separate from the money already raised by the K.P.A. which is to support patients and the Hospital. When anyone wishes to donate money and wants to choose which fund the money goes to, we can do this for you. The K.P.A. Research Fund is supporting a 2 year project being undertaken by the Renal Research Department with the sum of £20,000. This will be used to help provide better resources to enable the research department to be more effective in collecting and distributing data relating to renal tissues used for annualising and testing.

Rounders Challenge Match

Birmingham Transplant Games Team

Liver Unit Team

Renal Unit Team

On a very wet and cold Saturday afternoon patients and staff turned out to play Rounders. It was hoped the weather would have been better but a very enjoyable afternoon was had by all.

Three teams of staff and patients turned out from the Hospital, The Liver unit, Renal unit and members of the Birmingham Transplant Games Team, who are all transplant patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Each team played each other and the winning team at the end of the afternoon was the Renal Team. Very well done. Everyone enjoyed themselves and decided that they would take up the challenge again next year, but at a warmer time if possible. The event raised £285 which will go to the three charities, The Liver Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kidney Patients' Association and the Birmingham Transplant Games Team.

Mike Sharpe, Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham, presented the teams with medals which were donated by David Nix from the Donor Family Network.

Renal Staff take up the Challenge

A number of staff from the Renal Unit decided to support the K.P.A. by entering a 5K Fun Run held in Cannon Hill Park on Sunday 13th September to raise funds towards the cost of providing new Patient Information Booklets for renal patients at the Q.E. There was a good turnout and Dr Cockwell finished in 5th place. Very well done. The K.P.A. would like to thank all those who gave up their spare time to support renal patients.

Dr. Jo Adu retires after 25 years at the Q.E.

	Dr. Adu MA, MD, FRCP. He qualified from Oxbridge and trained in Guys Hospital London, moving to Birmingham in the early eighties. He is highly respected as an expert clinician and Nephrologist at the Q.E and nationally and internationally as a member of the kidney community. His research has been published in the most prestigious of medical journals and he is recognised as an international expert in the field of kidney disease due to S.L.E.(Systemic lupus erythematosus) He is also recognised for his tireless research in the field of kidney disease in the ethnic minority groups which is particularly important within the population of the West Midlands. Dr. Adu has held executive positions in the Royal College of Physicians and influential health organisations, The Kings Fund and the British Renal Association. Dr. Adu’s time at the QE will be most remembered for his absolute dedication to providing expert patient care and his human touch.
As a mark of his tireless service to patients with kidney disease for more than 25 years, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kidney Patients’ Association has presented Jo with a gift on behalf of all the renal patients and we hope he will enjoy using it. We would like to thank him for the dedication and commitment he has shown. We all wish him well for the future in his well earned retirement and may it be a long and very happy one. Thanks again from us all
	A presentation took place at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Friday 26th June. Jo was presented with a gift of cut glass from the K.P.A. on behalf of all the patients Jo has looked after in the many years has been at the Q.E. Jo is pictured with committee members of the K.P.A.

The Birmingham Transplant Games Team

As well as a second chance of an improved life, transplantation also gives us a second chance at other things. Before your transplantation you may have had an active life, including sports, or you may have chosen to exploit your new capability. One way of achieving this goal is the British Transplant Games a team from Birmingham has taken part in the games for a number of years now. Anyone who has had a Transplant is eligible to join The Birmingham Transplant Games Team. Some of the events are more challenging than others and if you qualify you could even represent the United Kingdom at the World Transplant Games.
The events that you can compete in are:-
Archery*, Badminton, Lawn Bowls, Cycling, Canoeing*, Darts, Fishing*, Golf, Snooker, Swimming, Squash, Sailing*, Table Tennis, Tennis, Ten Pin Bowling, Volleyball and Track and Field.
• Not at every event.
The British Transplant Games are not only a great sporting event, they also give the opportunity meet others who have undergone the same life changing event and, you can have fun as well.
This year, Coventry is the venue for The British Transplant Games and takes up the weekend of Thursday 30th July 2009 to Sunday 2nd August 2009. Above is a photo of the 2007 Team at the Gala Dinner at The British Transplant Games that took place in Edinburgh.

For more information see, www.transplantsport.org.uk Or contact The Team Manager via Gerald.Brown@sita.aero

Abe Lincoln visits Burntwood!

On the 4th July Gillian Moore organised an American Disco Night and Pig Roast in Burntwood. It was a great success, and Gillian raised £693 for the K.P.A. which is a fantastic amount. The pork was extremely popular and a queue was instantly formed with plenty asking for seconds. Gillian has had lots of requests for a Christmas ‘do’ so we will have to wait and see. The dancing went on til midnight and everyone said it was a great evening. Our thanks go to Gillian and all those who supported her. Well done.

Disco a swinging success

Gillian Moore from Burntwood contacted the K.P.A. and asked if she could organise a disco at a local school to raise money for the K.P.A.. This she did and raised Â£689 for the funds. It was the first time she had organised such an event and she was very pleased with the support from friends and family. Gillian enjoyed the event so much she said she would organise another later this year - watch this space. This is Gillian presenting the cheque to the K.P.A. and receiving a certificate of thanks.

K.P.A. takes to the canals

In September, the K.P.A. organised a canal-side fundraising and awareness event on the canal locks in Birmingham. The event was well supported by the committee members. If any renal patients or carers would like to help with future events, all would be very welcome. Please contact any of the committee for details.

	KIDNEY MATTERS
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kidney Patients' Association