Last updated on: Thursday, 25 November 2004 18:13

The Association began life in the summer of 2002 as a group of disgruntled renal patients and carers who were dissatisfied with the local provision of services for people with Kidney Disease, especially the lack of a satellite haemodialysis unit for patients who are unable to perform haemodialysis at home. After several years of individuals writing to Orkney Health Board with no success, it was obvious that a different approach was needed and the group set about highlighting the problems of renal patients through the local and national press. We also sought political support from our local M.S.P. , Mr Jim Wallace and our M.P., Mr Alastair Carmichael, both of whom were very sympathetic to our cause and have added their weight to our campaign.

As a result of the groups activities, NHS Orkney agreed to listen to us and a series of meetings was arranged which culminated in a formal proposal to increase service provision being put before Orkney Health Board in December 2002. Our proposal was given a private hearing, in which we had the opportunity to speak, before it was discussed in open Board session. Orkney Health Board have agreed that it is an area of service provision that needs to be improved upon and it will be incorporated into the Local Health Plan, due for publication in March 2003.

In October 2002, the group decided to formalise and we became the Orkney Kidney Patient Association following the adoption of our Constitution on the 13th November 2002. We also applied for and have been successful in gaining charitable status as a Scottish Charity. We can now fund raise to help us with our on going work which is to help and support local patients with renal disease, especially those needing dialysis.

Full details of the services we offer can be found in the information page under Orkney Kidney Patient Association.

We will also be keeping up the pressure on NHS Orkney to provide Orkney patients with a badly needed Haemodialysis Unit.