NEWS
SAKA AGM
The SAKA Annual General Meeting was held on Monday 30 September. 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.
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.
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
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.
PITHIA Trial
The PITHIA trial is a new clinical trial being rolled out across all transplant centres in the UK. The aim is to allow doctors to perform higher numbers of good quality transplants using kidneys from older donors.
3rd PKD Patient Research
Information Day
The 3rd PKD Patient Research Information Day was held on Saturday,14th July 2018 at The Circle, Rockingham Lane, Sheffield.
The event was chaired by nephrologist Prof. Albert Ong and was attended by nearly forty patients and guests.
Patients at the event were given presentations from experts on new research trials, patient experience of new treatments, managing pain and improvement of imaging techniques.
There were also opportunities to view posters from recent research studies, question the experts and to mingle and share experiences with each other.
The feedback from the day was very positive and there are plans for similar events in the future.
“An excellent informative day, thank you”
“Very useful”
“I am reasonably new to PKD but am very impressed and appreciative of the care and concern (and friendliness) of the Sheffield Team, thank you”
“This event is invaluable to me as a patient. It is so helpful to hear the advances in research as it helps me to feel more positive, empowered and knowledgeable about the disease”
For further information email: j.winterbottom@sheffield.ac.uk
LONDON to PARIS CYCLE RIDE
David Marshall, Chairman of SAKA, arrived in Paris on the afternoon of Saturday 28 July, having cycled all the way from London under the most trying of conditions. For much of the time the temperature was in excess of 35 degrees C, and one full day was above 40 degrees. On top of that, his bike suffered from mechanical issues on two occasions, meaning that he had to eventually abandon it and complete the ride on a borrowed bike which was much heavier to pedal.
All this was done on behalf of all renal patients, to raise funds for the National Kidney Fedearion and to raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation.
To help in David's fundraising, and to recognise his achievement, Click here.
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.
The sessions take place every Tuesday starting on 26 February and are for anyone with kidney related conditions.
For further details or to book an appointment:
Phone 0114 2502850 or
email: enquiries@ageuksheffield.org.uk
.
Print 