Kidney care is changing. New treatments, technologies and models of care offer a major opportunity to transform outcomes for people living with kidney disease – but without a clear national strategy, that potential risks being lost.
Following the publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, the kidney community has come together to call on the government to develop a national kidney disease strategy – one that supports prevention, earlier intervention and high-quality, person-centred care. You can read more about this campaign here.
The 10-Year Health Plan sets out three key shifts – towards digital, preventative and community-based care – providing the strategic foundation needed to redesign kidney services for the future. Building on this framework, a new Kidney Disease Strategy will shape how services evolve over the next decade.
Whilst we have seen brilliant work over the past few years, such as that from the Kidney Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) report and the Renal Service Transformation Programme (RSTP), there have been significant changes and innovations since.
- Huge progress in the management of early CKD, and in thinking about managing CKD in the context of other cardiac and metabolic conditions
- New therapies to help both genetic and immunologically mediated kidney disease
- A recognition that we need better care models for an ageing population
- A need to tackle widening inequalities and challenges with health literacy.
If we add to this a significant number of new technologies within medicine, the World Health Organisation’s recognition of kidney disease as a priority area (alongside cardiovascular and cancer care), and a new government seeking to refresh NHS care for the modern era, we believe there is a real need for new thinking about the delivery of kidney disease.
To get this right, the voices of those who use, deliver and plan kidney services are central.
Voices to Vision
Throughout 2026, a national listening exercise – Voices to Vision – will bring together patients, families, clinicians, commissioners, industry partners and system leaders to co-design a community-informed Kidney Disease Strategy, alongside continued campaigning for government action. The programme will focus on:
- Identifying priorities for improving kidney care and outcomes
- Understanding challenges and variation in current services
- Exploring opportunities to adopt innovation and new models of care
- Informing future service planning and decision-making
The strategy will focus on improving care for children and adults in England; however, recognising that any changes may impact on Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, voices from the devolved nations are invited to contribute to the listening events and consultation.
Please join us at a series of listening events to gather your ideas
- Virtual launch event – setting out the vision, the process and why this matters
4 February | 12:00 – 14:00
- In-person listening events
Birmingham – 26 February | The Birmingham Conference & Events Centre
Leeds – 25 March | The Studio, Leeds
Bristol – 29 April | The Holiday Inn Bristol City Centre
- Virtual listening events
London & East of England – 23 March | 12:00 – 14.00
Devolved nations – 20 April | 12:00 – 14.00
And many other ways to take part, including:
- Surveys to gather evidence, unmet needs and priorities for change
- A webinar series spotlighting pipeline innovations in kidney care across digital, technology and healthcare, and exploring pathways for adoption
- Virtual workshops focused on key challenges, opportunities and evidence across priority topics
- Expert interviews and panel discussions to deepen insight and build consensus
This initiative is backed by the NHS England National Clinical Director for kidney disease, the National Specialty Advisor for Specialised Paediatric Renal Services, National Kidney Federation, Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK, PKD Charity and the UK Kidney Association.
We encourage everyone with a stake in kidney care – and a commitment to improving lives – to take part.
