What is Kidney Disease?
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a long term condition where the kidneys gradually stop working leading eventually to death if not treated.
The kidneys are 2 bean-shaped organs, the size of your fist. They’re located on either side of the body, just beneath the ribcage. The main role of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood before converting them into urine. The kidneys also:
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help maintain blood pressure
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maintain the correct levels of chemicals in your body which, in turn, will help heart and muscles function properly
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produce the active form of vitamin D that keeps bones healthy
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produce a substance called erythropoietin, which stimulates production of red blood cells
Chronic kidney disease is the reduced ability of the kidney to carry out these functions in the long-term.
IT CAN AFFECT ANYONE - YES EVEN YOU !
THE IDEAL TREATMENT FOR END STAGE KIDNEY FAILURE WOULD BE A TRANSPLANT, WITH DIALYSIS AS SECOND BEST.
WITHOUT THIS YOU WILL DIE!
CURRENTLY DIALYSIS PATIENTS FROM OBAN ARE TRAVELLING BY TAXI TO FORT WILLIAM
3 X PER WEEK 52 WEEKS OF THE YEAR
THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE
GIVE US OUR LIVES BACK
Kidney Disease Data
Predictive data -
An AZ supported study, modelling the future impact of CKD in different countries including the UK came out recently. It estimates between 2022-32 in the UK:
Cost of missed workdays (patients and carers) = £2.1 billion
- 75.3% cent increase in demand for dialysis
- 78% increase in costs for RRT
- 12% prevalence of CKD in UK by 2032
- 21.7% increase in stage 3-5 by 2032
Dialysis Units operational in the 'Oban Area';
- Queens Elizabeth Hospital – Glasgow
- Raigmore Hospital – Inverness
- Belford Hospital – Fort William
- Campbelltown Hospital
Scottish Government recommendations are that patient travelling times for Dialysis treatment should not exceed 30 minutes one way.
It is reported that NHS Scotland spent 8.5 million pound on `Spin Doctors` in 2023 surely they can afford a Dialysis unit in Oban Hospital which would alter patients quality of life and be better use of financial resources. You might require the facility yourself in the future.
Useful Links:
Scottish in-centre dialysis transport: change and improvements urgently required »
Kidney disease: A UK public health emergency »
