Improved Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease in the UK

In the United Kingdom, more people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) than ever before are being diagnosed and are accessing treatment, according to a new report.

The Second Progress Report of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Renal Services shows that diagnosis and management of CKD is better than ever before. This is due to CKD being included in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for general practitioners (GPs) and the introduction of a standard kidney function measurement. With GPs identifying more cases earlier on, new patients are accessing treatment sooner.

Launching the report at a new kidney unit at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary (Doncaster, UK) Health Services, Minister Rosie Winterton said, "The dedication and hard work of the thousands of people involved in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney disease mean that we are now seeing real improvements in renal patient services. With cases being diagnosed early on, more people are getting rapid access to the care, advice, and treatment they need. And UK£60 million [US$119 million] of capital investment means that more renal patients than ever before are getting fast and convenient access to specialist services such as dialysis.”

UK National clinical director for kidney services, Dr. Donald O'Donoghue said, "The importance of early diagnosis of CKD cannot be underestimated--if not identified and managed properly, it can lead to cardiovascular disease or renal failure.” CKD has historically been an underdiagnosed condition, but early detection can extend the life of the kidneys. A year of dialysis costs the NHS between £20,000 ($39600) and £25,000 ($49600) per patient--so managing the condition at an early stage is also highly cost-effective.

In addition, an increasing number of renal units use the Renal Patient View system. This web-based tool allows patients to see blood test results and information about diagnosis and treatment from a computer anywhere in the world. Around half the renal units in England are now using the tool, with rapid expansion expected in 2007.


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Doncaster Royal Infirmary