NEWS
SAKA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020 POSTPONED
We would normally hold our AGM at the end of September, but due to Covid restrictions we are unable to do so this year. We will keep members and supporters updated as and when we are able to make any new arrangements in line with Charity Commission guidelines.
SONG CKD SURVEY INVITATION
You are invited to participate in a new Delphi Survey to understand what outcomes are important to patients, caregivers, family members and health professionals for research (clinical trials) in people with chronic kidney disease. This will help to ensure that researchers include outcomes that are relevant and meaningful for making decisions.
The focus of the survey is on chronic kidney disease (not yet requiring dialysis or kidney transplant). Patients receiving dialysis or have received a kidney transplant are also welcome to participate and will be asked to reflect on your past experiences before needing dialysis or transplantation. The Delphi survey includes two rounds and each survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.
If you are patient, family member, health professional with an interest in chronic kidney disease and would like to have a say about what is important to you, please click:
Christmas Cards
Due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic we are unable to sell Christmas cards at Sorby this year.
We are selling cards by mail order.
SOCIAL DISTANCING LANYARD
With COVID19 lockdown rules being relaxed even more, we are going to see more people out and about. Let people know you want social distancing, plus the hook can hold a hand sanitizer.
For more details and to order a lanyard visit:
https://www.kidney.org.uk/shop/social-distancing-lanyard
NKF COTTON FACE MASK
Following the success of our social distance lanyards, many of you told us how confident
you felt going out from the comfort of your own home wearing them.
You then asked for face masks, we listened, and we are happy to announce that the NKF has a 100% cotton, machine-washable, double-layered, black face mask, giving you even more confidence as you
venture outside.
You can pre-order yours for £1.50 on our website, or by calling our head office on 01909 544 999. For bulk orders of 50 or more, please contact Pete Revell on 01263 722 287.
HELP DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Locally there are several organisations offering help and support .
AGE UK Sheffield have been running a food delivery service for vulnerable people who are self isolating.
Phone: 0114 250 2850 or email enquiries@ageuksheffield.org.uk
Local Councils are also offering help and support and it is worth checking their websites for regular updates:
Sheffield City Council have a community response helpline for Sheffield residents with any queries related to coronavirus. This is open 8.45 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. Monday to Friday :
0114 273 4567
Rotherham Borough Council: Click here for website
Emergency helpline for immediate help: 01709 807319
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council: Click here for website
Chesterfield Borough Council: Click here for website
Kidney Research UK are asking people to take part in a questionnaire on the emotional impact of living with kidney disease.
There are 3 categories to choose from:
- People with long-term health conditions
- Family members and partners
- Health and social care professionals
Participants will be asked about the emotional impact of living with their condition, the support they currently receive, the support they would like to receive, or the ways they support others with health conditions and the impact this has on them.
We have set up a new Facebook Group:
We are
looking for patients (and family members/ carers etc) who attend the Sheffield Unit or its satellites.
We have started a small confidential group to discuss Sheffield and also share news and information based upon Sheffield. It
is clear during the COVID outbreak information is different from other units and it can get confusing. We would like the input of as many people as possible so that we can get a clear picture of what
is happening during this crisis.
Click here to visit / join the Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/sakasheffield
WORLD KIDNEY DAY 2020
To mark World Kidney Day, SAKA joined forces with Sheffield Hospitals Charity Trust to organise a Photography Exhibition at the Winter Garden in Sheffield, which ran for a whole week in March.
Paul Cocker took photographs of ten kidney patients and renal staff and these were displayed along with their personal stories.
We also had a range of information leaflets for the public to take.
DIALYSIS BIKES AT SHEFFIELD DIALYSIS UNIT
SAKA has purchased 2 specialist bikes for patients at Heeley to use whilst dialysing.
These bikes have great benefits for patients.
Haemodialysis patients generally spend 3-4 hours 3 or 4 times a week on dialysis. This equates to 4-6 weeks per year sitting or lying inactive whilst on dialysis. Physical inactivity can lead to poor physical performance, loss of bone strength, loss of appetite, muscle wasting, hypertension, fatigue and dependence. These complications are augmented in patients with kidney disease, which in itself can lead to muscle wasting and hypertension. As most haemodialysis patients spend a considerable amount of time travelling to and from and in a dialysis unit, they have less opportunity to exercise.
Exercise in the general population is associated with a number of benefits including:
- Improved blood pressure control
- Increased muscle strength
- Improved mental health and well being
- Improved physical function and maintenance of independence
- Improved sleep
There are further specific benefits noted in haemodialysis patients including:
- Improved efficiency of dialysis by increased muscle blood flow enhancing removal of toxins
- Improved nutrition
- Delay in end stage cachexia
NEWS FROM NKF
Introducing our new CEO: Andrea Brown
The trustees of the National Kidney Federation are pleased to announce that Andrea Brown will be appointed as NKF Chief Executive, from 1st January 2020.
David Marshall, Chairman NKF “Andrea has been the NKF Interim Chief Executive for the best part of 2019, the trustees are looking forward in further developing the NKF and the services it provides to
the renal community. As a patient led charity it is vital that our voice is heard clearly. Andrea is fully committed to this approach, and to take this mantra into the next decade and beyond.”
Andrea Brown “I have had the privilege of working with many wonderful people over the last seven years that I have been employed by the NKF. Working alongside all renal colleagues, the NKF as the
patient led charity will ensure a brighter future for all kidney patients in the UK. Time cannot stand still for the NKF, or for the reason we exist, patients - we must move forward and get the
patient voice heard at every opportunity.”
If you would like to get in touch with Andrea, please email andrea@kidney.org.uk
Have you received a kidney transplant?
The NKF is in the process of dedicating a page on their web site to celebrate kidney transplants. If you have received the gift of life please tell us how many years you have had your transplant,
does your kidney have a quirky name and maybe a photo of yourself? We will add your details to the page www.kidney.org.uk/your-kidney-anniversary Please email details to pete@kidney.org.uk including the date of your transplant
Living Donor Event
19 November 2019
The Living Donor Coordinators organised a highly successful evening at Bramall Lane on 19 November to give patients considering a living donor transplant all the information they needed. They were able to listen to and meet recipients of kidneys along with their donors.
The evening included a pie and pea supper and there was the chance to put questions to health care professionals as well as to donors and recipients.
GOLF CHALLENGE
On 24 October 2019 David Lilley completed a dawn to dusk golf challenge to raise funds for SAKA.
He raised £481.00 which HSBC are matchfunding and so the grand total will be £962.00, a great result.
He managed to play 4 rounds starting at 7.30am and finished at 5.30pm, even having his lunch on the go whilst travelling between holes.
He played 374 strokes with 17 pars and took 20557 steps.
Winners of the competition to guess his results were Christine Brown guessing 375 strokes,Liam Bennett guessing 17 pars and Amelia Tembey guessing 21000 steps.
Well done to David from all at SAKA.
David is on the right in the photo, being congratulated by Jason Baker from HSBC.
SAKA AGM
The SAKA Annual General Meeting was held on Monday 30 September 2019. Thank you to the loyal supporters who turned out on a wet evening.
We heard from Dr. Bisher Kawar, recently appointed as Clinical Director of Renal Services, who gave us an update on the Department. He explained that some of the dialysis facilities are due to be upgraded, and that they will be looking for patient input into ideas for future improvements.
Dr. Will MacKane spoke about an initiative called "Getting it Right First Time" (GIRFT), which compares best practice amongst renal departments throughout the country and enables units to help each other in delivering the best service possible to patients.
Mr. Steve Dilks from RPG Financial spoke about his management of the SAKA investments.
There followed the routine business, including a report on the National Kidney Federation.
SAKA Chair, David Marshall, spoke about the work of the charity and outlined our plans for the future, including changing our charitable status to become a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). This will extend the scope of what we are able to do for renal patients.
Phil Beattie, SAKA Treasurer, reported that the finances were in a healthy state and thanked everyone who had supported the charity over the year by regular and one off donations, including those who had chosen to remember loved ones in this way. He also thanked all volunteers who had helped sell Christmas cards and said a special thank you to Andrew Raftery for raising money through his talks to various groups around the city.
Officers and Committee Members were elected as follows:
Chair: David Marshall
Vice Chair: Ken Tupling
Secretary: Peter Joynson
Treasurer: Phil Beattie
Membership Secretary: Glynis Beattie
Committee Members: Adam Greenway, Darren Lath, Kerry Radford, Andrew Raftery
An Open Forum discussion highlighted discontent over the new appointment system. Instead of arranging your next appointment when leaving the Outpatients Deprtment you now have to wait to be contacted.
There were also questions on the supply of medications if and when Brexit happens.
FREE Information and Advice Sessions
SAKA is funding Information and Advice Sessions at the Renal Unit at the Northern General Hospital. Any renal patient can make use of this service, which covers benefits advice, housing issues, consumer issues, non-residential care, money matters, legal issues etc.
Sessions are also held at Heeley Satellite Unit.
The sessions are run on our behalf by Age UK, but are open to patients of any age.
So far we have had a lot of success in helping people claim benefits, which they may not otherwise have realised they were entitled to.
For further details or to book an appointment:
Phone 0114 2502850 or
email: enquiries@ageuksheffield.org.uk
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CARAVAN HIRE
As you may know SAKA used to own a holiday caravan on the east coast, but, due to its declining use, we took the decision to sell it.
However, the North East Kidney Patients Association now have a caravan for hire at Cayton Bay Holiday Park near Scarborough.
Details: 2 bedroom, 6 berth, wheelchair friendly, fully equipped , hire fee includes free entertainment passes
Dialysis is available at Scarborough Hospital (4 miles away) and Bridlington Dialysis Unit (6 miles away)
For more details / bookings please contact Victoria Harrison: victoria.10harrison@btinternet.com
Phone / text : 07985 781364
or visit: https://www.static-caravan.co.uk/private-hire-harrison-cayton-bay
To download flyer with full details CLICK HERE
SAKA was delighted to be chosen as one of the charities to benefit from the 2019 Music in the Gardens. This is an annual event in Sheffield's Botanical Gardens organised by local Rotary Clubs. Six volunteers from SAKA sold programmes and held a bucket collection on the evening of Sunday 7 July when the crowd was entertained by Unite the Union Brass Band and Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a firework display. So far over £700 has been raised, with more to come later in the year.
WORLD KIDNEY DAY 2019
World Kidney Day took place on Thursday 14 March.
To mark the occasion SAKA joined forces with the Sheffield Hospitals Charity to hold a photo exhibition in the Winter Garden in Sheffield city centre from Monday 11 March to Friday 15 March.
The Photo Exhibition featured the kidney stories of local individuals, including dialysis patients, transplant patients, a living donor and health care professionals.
Alongside was an information stand with leaflets on different aspects of kidney health.
We also help an Open Afternoon at the United Reformed Church on Norfolk St., with a variety of information stands, and speakers giving short presentations.
SHEFFIELD CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION
On 28 September 2018 a celebration was held at Kenwood Hall to mark 50 years of kidney transplantation in Sheffield.
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