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.

This exhibition is now on and you are welcome to view it. Details here: Plot on the Edge

The Kidney Patient's Forum meets up to four times per year , and comprises of both Patients and Medical staff. Our aim is to improve Renal life . We are seeking volunteers from the CAPD, Pre-Dialysis, Haemo Dialysis and Transplanted patients to come forward and offer their views.

Organ donor system overhaul call

BBC News item 13-01-08

Government advisers have recommended a radical overhaul of the UK organ donor network in a bid to double the number of organs available for transplant.

From The Sunday Times

November 18, 2007

Dutch may give financial reward to kidney donors

Nicola Smith and Aaron Gray-Block, Amsterdam

I have great pleasure in enclosing the website link for the final report of the Cheshire and Merseyside Renal Transport Action Learning Set.

Cheshire and Merseyside together with County Durham and Tees Valley were successful in becoming two national action learning sets established by the Department of Health to develop local sustainable solutions to renal transport issues which could be shared across the NHS as a whole.

Transport is a fundamental and important part of a renal patient's care but it is an issue that is consistently raised as a national concern. With the anticipated significant growth in renal patient numbers over the coming years, it is essential that plans are developed to meet the needs of these patients, including their transport requirements.

In undertaking this work, the Learning Set considered national policy guidance on Patient Transport Services (PTS) and held listening events as well as visiting areas where work has been progressing to modernise renal transport services. The recommendations outlined within the report are therefore consistent with national policy and hopefully identify all the main issues expressed by those involved in providing and receiving renal transport services.

The report summarises the findings and recommendations of the Learning Set. The interactive supporting documentation provides the detailed background to this work including examples of best practice. Web links to key national policy documents are also provided. All of these documents are also available on our website www.cmssct.nhs.uk.

The Learning Set have been invited to present on its work at a national renal transport meeting organised by the Department of Health due to be held on Wednesday 25 October 2006. We also hope that a forthcoming Healthcare Commission Renal Audit will focus on transport needs.

Finally, we were fortunate as a Learning Set to be given the time, space and support to develop our thinking in this area and I hope that you will find this work both interesting and helpful in considering your local renal transport services.

I would be very grateful if you could pass this report onto those who may be interested in it. If you would like to discuss any aspect of this work further, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely
Jenny Scott
Head of Specialised Commissioning / Lead Commissioner for Renal Services
Renal Transport Action Learning Set Facilitator