BRADFORD hospital staff are supporting World Kidney Day (WKD), which this year has ‘Kidney Disease and Women’s Health' as its theme. 

WKD is an annual global awareness and education event, held on the second Thursday in March every year, and a team of renal dietitians from St Luke’s Hospital, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, are taking part with a stall in the Broadway shopping centre. 

Paul Bailey, specialist renal dietitian said: “The purpose of World Kidney Day is to draw public attention to the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to help protect the kidney and reduce the risks of developing kidney disease.

“This year, World Kidney Day and International Women’s Day are on the same day, so specific focus has been placed on the importance of women’s kidney health.

"In the UK, chronic kidney disease is more common in women than in men, especially in older women, however, fewer women go on to need dialysis or a kidney transplant, therefore ensuring a timely diagnosis is important – helping women to access therapies that may help slow progression of their kidney disease.

“There is also a big push for better planning and close monitoring throughout pregnancy for women with kidney disease to help improve outcomes.”

Renal dietitian, Susan Dunn added: “We are inviting ladies to come along to the Broadway shopping centre, just outside Debenhams, to find out how to look after their kidneys. 

“This is an opportunity for women to find out about kidney function and kidney disease and the impact this can have.  Through our stand in the Broadway we are looking to raise awareness of this life threatening problem. The more people know about kidney health the better. 

“Kidney disease is common, affecting over 3 million people in the UK.  Unfortunately this can go undetected as people often have no symptoms.  People with high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease, or those with a family history of kidney disease and those from certain ethnic groups have a higher risk of developing kidney disease.”

Dr John Stoves, clinical lead for renal services, said kidney disease is often a silent condition.

He said: “This year our focus is on promoting the health of women with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We have been working closely with our obstetric colleagues to improve the support we provide for women with CKD who are contemplating pregnancy or become pregnant."