Irish Kidney Association

Intent: Every year the Irish Kidney Association invites the current Minister to launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week - a week long initiative aimed at promoting the organ donation conversation.

Methods: Email

Intent: The hope was for the government to endorse the resolution, joining other countries in promoting the importance of addressing the hidden dangers of chronic kidney disease - on its current trajectory it will be the 5 leading cause of death internationally by 2040.

Methods: Email

Intent: Reimbursement for costs for electricity, telephone and water incurred by people on home dialysis are currently reimbursed via Revenue meaning that there needs to be a taxpayer in the household. The average age starting dialysis is currently over 60 years of age, it is unlikely that there will be a taxpayer in the household thus discouraging people taking on home dialysis. There's a false economy as home dialysis costs the HSE significantly less than out-patient treatment.

Methods: Meeting

Intent: To understand if it would be possible for exceptions to be made in relation to the qualifying cut-off date (pre 22 November 2022) would be considered for people who have started or start home dialysis after that date or whether there are plans to change the date.

Methods: Meeting

Intent: The recommendations in the IKA report, 'Kidney Disease, confronting a silent epidemic, Act now for a better future' be accepted.

Methods: Informal communication

Intent: People on dialysis need 3 to 4 hour sessions, 3 days a week. Currently people on dialysis cannot go on holidays, visit families and friends or complete work trips in other parts of Ireland, away from their local dialysis units. This is because ' out of area dialysis' is not generally available as dialysis units are at capacity. The aim is to ensure that people on dialysis can travel in their own country away from their local dialysis unit.

Methods: Informal communication

Intent: To express thanks to Stephen Donnelly on the introduction of the CKD screening programme and thank him for his work as Health Minister

Methods: Social Media

Intent: Update Minister Stephen Donnelly on the return of the Renal Support Centre on the grounds of Beaumont Hospital which was sequestered during Covid 19.

Methods: Social Media

Intent: To receive an update on the proposed dialysis unit in Ennis, Co Clare which is due to open in 2025. Violet assured that the Haemodialysis unit will be running from early 2025 and would keep an eye on the timeline.

Methods: Email

Intent: Carol Moore emailed Mark Daly for paperwork for nominations to be discussed with the board at their meeting on 26/9/2024. Mark Daly to send paperwork on 17th which was received on 18th September via Grace Marks Secretary. The result intended is the IKA board of Directors will nominate Mark Daly for Seanad.

Methods: Email