It's hoped more donor organs will become available
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Kidney services in Wales will be run by a single body in future in a move campaigners say will cut bureaucracy and improve access to dialysis.
Welsh health minister Edwina Hart is setting up an
All-Wales Renal Network to oversee treatment.
She said it would ensure improvements were consistent across Wales following her announcement in June of extra money to expand dialysis programmes.
Campaigners said services had been too fragmented in the past.
The All-Wales Renal Network will bring together bodies in the north and south.
"Work is already under way with local communities to deliver a programme of dialysis expansion across Wales and I have already agreed an additional investment of £2.5m for 2008/9 and £6.8m for 2009/10," she said.
She said the assembly government would also continue its work with the Kidney Wales Foundation to encourage more people to sign up to the organ donor register.
"We have also held a public consultation on changing the legislation on organ donation and we are currently considering the responses and options available," she said.
The WKPA is delighted that Edwina Hart has announced that there will be an All Wales Renal Network to oversee renal facilities in Wales. Patients’ representatives on the WKPA committee sat on the Renal National Service Framework published in May 2007 which set the standards for all renal replacement therapies. Your representatives continue to attend networks meetings, raising issues on your behalf. At the last South Wales network meeting on Friday 21st August 2009,John Reever raised the important issue that there has not been a Renal Social Worker appointed at UHW to replace Elin Owen.
We continue to raise matters that concern our members at every opportunity. The setting up of the all Wales Renal Network will make it easier for the WKPA to campaign on your behalf.
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