The UK Kidney Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Helen Hurst as the new Multi-Professional Team (MPT) Co-Chair of the Supportive Care Special Interest Group (SIG).

Helen succeeds Karen Jenkins, who is stepping down from the role after helping to lead the SIG alongside Medical Co-Chair Dr Jyoti Baharani. We would like to thank Karen for her commitment and contribution to the development of the group and its work to advance supportive kidney care across the UK.

Commenting on her appointment, Professor Hurst said:

"Thank you UKKA for accepting me as MPT co-chair for the Supportive Care SIG. I am excited to continue working in this SIG and taking over from Karen Jenkins who has so capably co-led with Dr Jyoti Baharani. I hope with Dr Baharani I can continue the great work!"

Professor Hurst is Professor of Nursing at the University of Salford and Consultant Nurse in Renal Services at Salford Royal, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. She brings extensive experience in renal nursing, education and workforce development to the role and will work alongside Dr Baharani to lead the next phase of the SIG's work.

About the Supportive Care SIG

The UKKA Supportive Care SIG brings together healthcare professionals with an interest in supportive kidney care.

The group's aim is to provide education, training, learning resources and clinical recommendations that enable healthcare professionals to deliver safe, effective and person-centred supportive care for adults and children with end-stage kidney disease.

The SIG operates through focused task and finish groups, enabling members to contribute to specific projects aligned with their expertise and interests. This flexible approach supports collaboration across disciplines while driving forward key areas of work.

Current and recent projects include:

• Development of the UKKA Symptom Management Clinical Practice Guideline, due for publication early 2027.
• Work with the UK Renal Registry to establish metrics for supportive kidney care.
• The NKF-funded Patient and Professional Perspectives research project.
• Development of a Frailty and CKD Clinical Practice Guideline.
• A paediatric palliative care formulary.
• A forum supporting junior researchers to present and discuss kidney supportive care and conservative kidney management research.
• Research including qualitative analysis of patient and clinician understanding of supportive care, and the SEISMIC survey exploring supportive kidney care practice across the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

The UKKA looks forward to working with Professor Hurst and Dr Baharani as the Supportive Care SIG continues to develop resources, guidance and research that support high-quality supportive kidney care across the UK.