Ethnicity & Renal Failure:
Disparity or Diversity

A National Symposium at the British Library May 9th 2003

Read the full symposium report here.

The UK demand for renal replacement therapy is on the increase and in recent years some areas have seen a three to five fold rise in renal failure amongst Asian and African Caribbean populations compared to Caucasions (Lightstone 2002, Roderick 2002). When these stark statistics are set alongside the geographical inequalities in access to health care, the outcome is a disproportionate representation of minority groups on dialysis and those waiting on transplant lists. As a result, the renal community is well aware of the challenges involved in reaching out to and caring for those from minority groups, but the question remains – is the renal community doing all it can to deliver a fair and equitable service?

On May 9th 2003, South West Thames Renal & Transplantation Unit and South West Thames Institute for Renal Research hosted the first national symposium ‘Ethnicity & Renal Failure: Disparity or Diversity?’ at the British Library. The symposium outlined the current epidemiological data on ethnicity, identified causal factors and presented innovative UK and American initiatives designed to reach and treat ‘at risk’ groups. The aim of the symposium was to raise the profile of the Ethnicity and Diversity in Renal Failure and to promote the concept of inclusive and networked care as away to tackle primary prevention, organ donation, health planning and health provision.

We were delighted to have David Lammy MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Health to give the opening address and he very clearly emphasised the need to address the advancing challenge of the increased risk of renal disease in minority ethnic groups. Senior figures from United Kingdom Transplant, the British Renal Society, the National Kidney Research Fund and a range of patient and community groups also gave their support to the symposium by attending the day and contributing to the lively discussion.

All of the speakers kindly agreed to have their presentations published in this document and I know that these papers will provide an excellent resource for all members of the renal community in the planning of future health care initiatives.
Sue Woodcock RGN, BSc (Hons),
MA, PGCert.
Renal Education Lead at South West
Thames Renal & Transplantation Unit.
Event and Programme Organiser.

Read the full symposium report here.

Overview | Organ Shortages Critical | Information for the South Asian Community | Organs by Race?
Asian Attitudes to Organ Donation | Organ Donation and Transplantation - The Multi-Faith Perspective
Important Facts | Our Problem & Our Responsibility | Organs for Sale | One Man's Story
One Man's Story - Ten Years On | Anup Nahar's Story | Walk in Love and Hope
Living Transplants Reach All Time High | Ethnicity & Renal Failure: Disparity or Diversity
Early Management of Renal Failure: Prevention or Prevarication? | Asian Organ Donors Urgently Needed
Kidney Disease: the silent killer affecting YOU - and how to prevent it | The Body Snatchers
SADP Endorses PM'S Proposal for Presumed Consent for Organ Donation