Trailblazing new programme to SPOT kidney disease early
New collaboration of NHS and Boehringer Ingelheim can transform health outcomes in the North East and North Cumbria – and lead the way to better care worldwide
Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) will be detected, diagnosed and treated quicker thanks to a pioneering new partnership announced today.
The SPOT CKD (Screening, Prevention, Outreach and Treatment for Health Equity) initiative brings together multinational company Boehringer Ingelheim with North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria to transform chronic kidney disease (CKD) outcomes in some of the region's most deprived areas.
The collaborative project * will use locally developed NHS technology to proactively identify patients at risk of CKD, who will be encouraged to attend their GP practice for blood and urine screening tests.
The project will fund clinical pharmacists and technicians with support to help in identifying at-risk patients in parts of the North East and North Cumbria. Once they are diagnosed with CKD, the patients will be offered an enhanced level of support and information.
The project will also support multi-disciplinary teams of GPs, pharmacy technicians and consultants to provide guidance in patient management and fast-track patients along the care pathway if needed.
Tackling CKD is aligned with priorities set out in the region's clinical conditions strategic plan.
The kidneys work closely with the heart and metabolism to keep us healthy, but once CKD takes hold, damage can go unnoticed until it reaches an advanced stage, increasing the patient's risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure or sudden cardiac death. However, access to timely and appropriate treatment can slow disease progression and prevent life-limiting complications, such as the need for dialysis and/or a kidney transplant. These complications can be a significant burden on patients, families and the economy.
Dr Neil O'Brien, the ICB's chief medical officer, said: "This is a hugely exciting step for our region's health. Our goal as an organisation is to help people live longer, healthier lives – and for many of our people that's exactly what this will mean.
"Chronic kidney disease is one our key priorities for the region, and with this partnership we will be able to make a bigger impact on people's health and reduce inequalities."
Professor Smeeta Sinha, National Clinical Director for Renal Services, NHS England, said: “I welcome the initiatives by Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria and North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, and NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight to improve early detection of chronic kidney disease. Early detection is crucial to prevent the progression of CKD, which is often underdiagnosed and can have devastating consequences for people living with the disease. Initiatives that focus on prevention and early intervention can improve outcomes and quality of life for those affected and I’m pleased to see these partnerships that can support better kidney care for NHS patients.”
Minister for Public Health, Ashley Dalton, said: “This government has made it clear that we will take action to prevent some of the country’s biggest killers, including kidney disease. This latest initiative is a shining example of the importance of shifting the focus from sickness to prevention and harnessing the power of technology to make quality healthcare accessible to all. Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle wider inequalities that lead to poor health and continue to work with local healthcare providers to build an NHS fit for the future.”
Chronic Kidney Disease affects around one person in ten in the UK, and is expected to be the world's fifth leading cause of mortality by 2040 – but it can be easily identified through two simple tests. People in deprived communities are more prone to CKD, progressing faster to kidney failure and facing higher mortality rates.
Central to the project is the support of Boehringer Ingelheim, which has another collaborative with NHS Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which is part of a globally important initiative aligned with their focus on addressing health equity.
Vani Manja, Country Managing Director & Head of Human Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim UK & Ireland said:
“The SPOT CKD programme and the establishment of these collaborative working projects marks an important step in enabling better healthcare access and improving outcomes for those in underserved communities across these regions of England. This is part of a globally important initiative aligned with our focus on addressing health equity.”
The project will be delivered in partnership with Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, and will use the locally developed Clinical Digital Resource Collaborative patient search tool to identify patients who can benefit.
Professor Julia Newton, Medical Director at Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, said:
“We are delighted to be working with the ICB and Boehringer Ingelheim to improve early detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease.
"In the UK, around 7 million people have CKD and there are up to 45,000 premature deaths every year. By equipping healthcare teams with the right tools and knowledge, we can identify those most at risk sooner, provide the right treatment, and help prevent serious complications. This partnership is a crucial step towards improving patient outcomes and reducing the wider impact of CKD on individuals, families, and the healthcare system.”
Read more about the project here https://healthinnovationnenc.org.uk/spot-ckd