These are difficult times for everyone, but people with kidney disease face particular challenges. Jonathan Bartley and Ellen Hill, Kidney Care UK’s regional Advocacy Officers, are available to support and represent you, your families, and carers.
Jonathan and Ellen have been trained to help with a range of issues relating to kidney disease, including treatment options, welfare and benefits, emotional support, and dialysis away from base. As you would expect, their advocacy service is sensitive, compassionate, and completely confidential.
What are Advocacy Officers?
Advocacy Officers work with you one-to-one and, if necessary, can arrange further support offered by Kidney Care UK, including the telephone counselling service and financial grants programme. Financial support is available to those on a low income and can help to pay for household items, travel expenses and towards training courses.
Patient Reported Experience Measure
As part of its work improving care services, Kidney Care UK actively supports the Kidney PREM, which stands for Patient Reported Experience Measure. This anonymous annual survey is undertaken in partnership with the UK Kidney Association (UKKA, formerly known as the Renal Association) and it is used nationally to look at how care is provided and promote the sharing of best practice. Locally, the results help kidney units understand how their patients really feel about their care, highlight what’s working well and identify the areas where improvements could be made.
More information
Like the rest of the Advocacy team, Jonathan and Ellen will be looking closely at the results and supporting units, kidney patient associations and patients to come together and improve services. If you would like to read more about this year’s kidney PREM, go to www.kidneycareuk.org/prem
For an advocacy referral, financial help, or support with any other issues, call Kidney Care UK on 01420 541424
(Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or send an email to info@kidneycareuk.org