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Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kidney Patients' Association
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IMPORTANT NOTICES: Swine Flu - Swine Flu 2 - Tacrolimus - Flu Vaccinations


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

NOTICE FOR Q.E.H.K.P.A ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kidney Patients' Association
will be held in the Seminar Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Administration block
on Wednesday 9th June 2010 at 7.30 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Apologies for absence
2. Minutes of the last A.G.M. held 8th June 2009
3. Matters arising
4. Chairman’s report
5. Treasurer’s report
6. Election of Officers and Committee
7. Appointment of Auditors
8. Any other business
For and on behalf of the Association Joan Ingram, Secretary

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


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.

Bob (Robert) Smith

It is with very much sadness that I have to inform members that Bob Smith, our Vice-Chairman, passed away on 26th December 2009 after a short illness.
Bob has been a long-time supporter of the K.P.A., firstly with Heartlands Hospital where he dialysed and then with the Q.E.H.K.P.A. when he had a transplant 27 years ago. He was Vice-Chairman for many years and Chairman of the organisation in 2000. Bob was always a keen supporter of all our events and he will be very sadly missed by us.
Bob was also very active with the National Kidney Federation. He has been their Vice-Chairman and was currently their Company Secretary.
Bob was always keen to be involved and he will be missed by us all as a member of the K.P.A. and as a friend.
I would like to take this opportunity to pass on our deepest sympathy to his sister and family on their sad loss.


Nick Flint


K.P.A. Grand Annual Draw
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
K.P.A. Grand Annual Draw 2010
First Prize £300
Second Prize £150
Third Prize £75
Plus ten lucky fivers
And other prizes
To Be Drawn On 13th January 2010
The draw did not take place on the 13th January due to the bad weather.It was draw at the Aston Dialysis unit on Monday 18th January. Full details of the winners will be on the this page in a few days.
Thank you for your support

K.P.A. Grand Annual Draw Winners
Winners nameTicket noPrizeWinners nameTicket no.Prize
Mr M Bladon, Oldbury32890£300Mr R Coley, Tividale02977£5
Mr A Mead, Bromsgrove22100£150Miss A Stiles, Walsall48344£5
Mr J O’Connor, Kingstanding00102£75Mr M Gayle* Saltley35614£5
Mr C Drysdale, Handsworth22620£5Miss J Wilson, Longbridge15442£5
Miss S Wood, Cradley Heath43448£5Mrs P Howells, Devon16095Book
Mr R Jacques* Stafford21056£5Ms C Upton, Sutton Coldfield01071Book
Mr G Reed, Lichfield43836£5Mrs J Smith, Moseley43899Book
Mr M Jordon, Tenbury Wells08650£5Ms A Hill, Stourport39245Book
Ms N Roberts, Halesowen02447£5Mrs J O’Gorman, Weoley Castle24733Book
*,Indicates prize money donated back to Q.E.H.K.P.A

Announcement
See the Diary for more details on the following:

THE PRECIOUS GIFT SERVICE 2010 Sunday 4th July 2010 2pm
TOMBOLA AT SAINSBURYS WALSALL Saturday 11th of December 2010



The K.P.A. would welcome more support from patients and families.
The K.P.A. has supported renal patients and the Hospital for about 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 greater help.
We meet once a month at the Q.E., 2nd Wednesday each month. There are over 2000 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 at our meeting 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 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.

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. Ready,
Run1bRun3bRun4bRun5b

Swine Flu
In England, symptomatic individuals will be able to contact the Pandemic Flu Information Line: 0800 1 513 513 to hear about flu and its symptoms. If their symptoms are suggestive of flu they should use the telephone or web-based assessment using the National Pandemic Flu Service, to identify whether they need antiviral drugs. If they do, they will be given a reference number entitling their flu friend to pick up the medication at a local collection point. Currently this service does not cover Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland as the demand is not as great. The current arrangements in place in the different home countries are summarized at:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_178842.htm

Patients in Scotland can phoneNHS 24: 08454 24 24 24
Patients in Wales can phoneNHS Direct Wales: 0845 46 47
Patients in Northern Ireland can phoneNorthern Ireland Swine Flu Helpline: 0800 0514 142 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

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.

British Transplant Games – 2009
In late July and early August 2009 the Birmingham QE Transplant Sports team took part in the British Transplant Games in Coventry. Each member of the Birmingham Team has undergone a life saving transplant at the Birmingham QE hospital. The games not only demonstrate that a healthy and fulfilling life exists after transplantation but also makes a strong statement to donor families and potential donors of the recipients desire to make the most of their second chance.
The sporting activities were based around the Warwick University campus and Coventry City sports facilities. Over the 4 day event the Birmingham team took part in a wide range of sporting activities including athletics, bowls, cycling, darts, golf, squash, swimming, tennis, tenpin bowling and many other sports.
The sports events are split by age range to even out the competition. The Birmingham team members compete in all of the age ranges – from those who have just come from the Birmingham children’s team who compete in the more energetic events to those who were transplanted some years ago who compete in the more sedate events. Some of the older members of the Birmingham team are still very athletic.
This year’s event was very successful for the Birmingham Team with a large number of medals being won in many different sporting and age categories. A large tally of gold, silver and bronze medals were accumulated over the 4 days – this success was further enhanced by awards for the best veteran and super senior competitors being made to members of the Birmingham Team at the Gala Dinner.
Some members of the Birmingham Transplant Sports Team will now be going on to represent the United Kingdom at the World Transplant Games in Australia at the end of August.
If you are interested in taking part or just want to learn more, please contact the Birmingham Transplant Sports Team Manager Gerald Brown at gerald2brown@gmail.com or phone 01925 604543

K.P.A. support the Games Team
This year the K.P.A. supported the Birmingham team by providing track suits and shirts. The National Games promotes the importance and success of transplants.
All the members of the Birmingham team received their transplants at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Well done to all of them






Surprise party for Peter Hamer
Last summer, the family of Peter Hamer organised a surprise party for Peter’s 60th Birthday and very generously asked that instead of presents they would like donations for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kidney Patients Association They have raised £300.
The K.P.A. would like to thank all those who supported Peter and we wish Peter a belated very Happy Birthday.

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.

K.P.A. Tombola and collection at Sainsbury’s
Members of the K.P.A. turned out on the 5 July 2008 to raise money. A tombola organized by Dawn Roach and a collection proved very successful. We raised £450. The K.P.A. wish to thank the management of Sainsbury’s Walsall for their help and support in this and other fundraising activities that we organize.

Artist seeks kidney patients
A Conceptual art installation is planned as part of Warwickshire Artsweek in July 2008. Artist Grace Newman is seeking patients who are waiting for a kidney transplant, and may be willing to take part in research for the project. Patients participation would involve answering 6 questions and providing a photograph (all optional). Patients taking part will be sent photographs of the finished artwork.

The idea behind the work is to help raise awareness of the need for more donor organs.

If you can help, please e-mail Grace or phone her on 07767015428. Deadline 28th June.

Artist's website


Sainsbury's Support the K.P.A
The K.P.A thank Walsall Sainsbury's for allowing us to sell tickets and collect for the K.P.A.. It was a very cold and windy day for those who came out and supported this very worthwhile event. Thanks to all involved. If any patient or carer would like to join us at future fundraising events please contact any of the committee.

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 £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.

2007-8 Annual Christmas Draw
GRAND ANNUAL DRAW XMAS 2008 Winners
The Christmas Draw was a very great success. We sold over £3000 worth of tickets. We would like to thank all those who supported us and to those who gave us a donation. The Draw took place at our January meeting and renal Nurse Jane Wallace drew the winning tickets. Congratulations to the lucky winners.

Names and the lucky numbers of the 2007/8 annual draw winning tickets

First prizeMR F KANJI (24544) £300.00
Second PrizeMR A HAYFIELD (04300) £150.00
Third PrizeDAY CENTRE (15205) £75.00
10 Lucky FiversMR S WILLIAMS (04351), MR D SMITH(06763), MS S MELIA (34451), MRS J COSNETT (21004), LEAH GEES (37618),MR T BULL (01380), M F KANJI (24558), MISS A TIMMINS (02118), MR KIMBERLEY (21241), MR R SMITH (33326)
BookMISS O’ TOOLE (01266), MR S McPHEE (37403), MR STIRCHLEY (39590), MS J BIRCH (37437), MR AINGE (33092)

Well done and thank you all for supporting the K.P.A.


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.

Congratulations
We would like to congratulate Ann Southall on her engagement to Nigel Fearn. Ann is a loyal and hard working supporter and committee member of the K.P.A. and has been for many years. We would like to thank her for her hard work and wish Ann and Nigel all our best for their future Happiness.