The first national standards for the quality of renal care - The National Service Framework (NSF) for Renal Services - have been launched.
The NSF sets out five standards based on: better access to information for patients; early preparation for dialysis; ensuring dialysis starts in a planned way; ensuring dialysis best suits the needs and preferences of patients and improving the access to and outcome of renal transplants.
Early action has been highlighted in the NSF and these steps must be achieved by 2006.
All renal units will be expected to take part in a national audit so that the level of services across the country can be compared. The best services will provide a benchmark for the rest.
The other priorities are to see services expanded to cover both home and centre-based haemodialysis and patient should be offered the choice of which type of dialysis they would like to receive.
The NSF has also set the implementation of NICE recommendations on immunosuppressive therapy as a further target for 2006. The NSF has been developed in two parts. The first is Dialysis and Transplantation and the second part Prevention and End of Life Care will follow.
An information implementation strategy to support the National Service Framework for Renal Services has been launched. It provides guidance and identifies local and national activities to help deliver successful systems and services to support people with kidney problems. The Renal Services Information Implementation Strategy is at:
