A SHEEPISH TALE2016/17 prices will take place. Kirit thanked everyone who had helped bring about this “pause”. FINANCES Income (Total £257.56) Donations - JustGiving £3.46 In

Coventry and Warwickshire Kidney Patients’

Association

The Kidney Kourier

December 2014

2

Coventry and Warwickshire Kidney Patients' Association (Charity Commission Registration Number 508587)

Medical Advisors: Updated list will appear in the next edition Committee Grace Newman Chairperson 01926 770924 and website Vivienne Dodds Secretary 02476 384061 Terry Ivens Treasurer 01926 634360 Mike Horton 07974 606519 Joanne Randall 02476 694834 Alan Vernon 02476 490641 CWKPA Website: www.cwkpa.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] NKF Website: www.kidney.org.uk Correspondence should be sent to:

Vivienne Dodds 51 Magyar Crescent Nuneaton CV11 4SQ Donations should be sent to:

Mr T Ivens 9 Fair Close Frankton Rugby CV23 9PL. Cheques should be made payable to Coventry and Warwickshire KPA Articles etc for the Kourier should be sent to:

Kate Balfour 5 Bartlett Close Warwick CV34 4UY E-mail: [email protected]

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We would like to extend all good wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year to all renal patients. This is the time when we thank our medical staff – the renal team at UCHCW, the staff at all the dialysis centres, our GPs and their staff. We are very lucky to have such good care. xxx

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FROM THE CHAIRMAN Hi fellow kidney patients, family & friends - Thanks to our contributors this month, our lovely Kate has been able to produce this bumper issue of The Kidney Kourier. Please keep the contributions coming – we love to hear from you. As you may know we don’t usually meet up for a social event in January but, like last year, we are arranging a post-Christmas meal instead. Please see the events list on page 5 list for our 2015 activities. It was lovely to meet new kidney patients & friends on our day trip to Bourton-on-the-Water. A coach trip is a definite event on the calendar next year. Hopefully my grandson won’t protest so loudly next time! Remember - even if it’s cold outside, it’s still important to take part in some kind of activity where possible. For more information on activities and sports for kidney patients please go to: www.transplantsport.org.uk Can I ask again if there is anyone who would like to join our friendly committee, as we are quite small in number. Being kidney patients, we often have health problems and would welcome a few more people to join and help in any small way. Many thanks and see you soon. Grace x

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY, 2015

Date Event Details

Tues 09/12/14

UHCW Kidney Patient Forum

If anyone has any points they would like raised, please contact Michael Horton 07974 606519

Mon 26/01/15

Deadline for March edition (Kourier)

Saturday 31/01/15

Post-Christmas meal. Patienst & Carers subsidised by CWKPA

The Queen’s Head, Bretford, at 7.00pm, phone Kate (01926 403059) to book a place.

Thurs 12/03/15

World Kidney Day, information table, raffle & donation box.

TBA. Hopefully in UHCW entrance hall. Please contact Michael Horton if you can help (07974 606519)

Sat 14/03/15

Social and talk/entertainment

TBA. 7.15pm, Clifford Bridge Community Centre, Coombe Park Road, Coventry, CV3 2PD

Mon 27/04/15

Deadline for June edition (Kourier)

Sat 09/05/15

AGM & social/talk /entertainment

TBA. 7.15pm. Clifford Bridge Community Centre, Coombe Park Road, Coventry, CV3 2PD

Sun 14/06/15

CWKPA Coach Trip TBA. Leaving from Coventry South Park & Ride.

Mon 27/07/15

Deadline for Sept edition (Kourier)

Mon 26/10/15

Deadline for Dec edition (Kourier)

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NEWS AND UPDATES

Dialysis Commissioning NHS England Commissioning

intentions were published on 3rd October 2014. There is a plan to stop commissioning dialysis as a “specialised service” and devolve commissioning responsibility for dialysis to Clinical Commissioning Groups. The National Kidney Federation (NKF) has always been against this idea and has been promised full consultation. If you have an interest in dialysis, you may wish to read the consultation document and feed your view back to the NKF. You can read the commissioning document here:

http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/comms-intents-2015-16.pdf

You can feed your views back to:

Timothy F Statham OBE (NKF CEO) at [email protected]

Remember: it is your service and such major changes matter. You can look at the NKF website for the latest news:

www.kidney.org.uk

Coventry City Centre Dialysis Unit There is still a delay

with the provision of a city centre dialysis unit for Coventry. Although there is a consensus of agreement with the Commissioning groups, the main problem is the requirement of a new business proposal requested by NHS Estates. To comply with this request takes a lot of time and effort, and will have to be based on current costings.

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In the meantime various options are been explored to relieve the pressure on services, including extra twilight spaces. The knock-on effect on staff and transport provision is been assessed, as well as trying to get support from other local health authorities by them taking back patients who live in their areas.

Reminder: Patient Questionnaire In the coming months a

patient questionnaire is to be issued. All renal patients are encouraged to complete this as accurately as possible as the results will be assessed and used to shape the provision of future renal services.

NKF Conference – some of the highlights, by Mike Horton

This year’s Conference was entitled “Taking Control”

Subjects included the more technical side of transplantation, by Mr Mark Clancy , Consultant Transplant surgeon from Glasgow, along with the personal experiences of four patients on their journeys through the renal experience.

One of the highlights of the Conference was the cookery demonstration given by Laurence Keogh, the TV Chef, himself a renal patient. He gave a very funny, informative demonstration as he reminisced on his experiences of renal failure, and how it affected his career - as he cooked a three course meal – in one hour!

The hot topic of the Conference was the discussion on Patient Transport. It was obvious that problems exist throughout the country. Delegates put forward their moans and groans with graphic examples of early or late transport. No panacea for the perfect system could be suggested. A group of delegates were tasked to look at

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the situation and come up with some guidelines. (Coventry & Warwickshire KPA will be participating.)

The Chairman of the NKF, Mr Kirit Modi, announced that he would be standing down at the AGM in March 2015, as his transplanted kidney is failing.

As you are all aware the Government was trying to reduce the Renal Budget by 15% in the coming year. Kirit Modi announced that he welcomed the decision of Monitor and NHS England, not to go ahead with the severe cuts from 2015/16. This process would be “paused” for one year. This “pause” will allow greater engagement and assessment of the pricing, and impact on services in particular. Further engagement with clinical expertise, KPAs, the NKF and other interested parties over the 2016/17 prices will take place. Kirit thanked everyone who had helped bring about this “pause”.

FINANCES Income (Total £257.56)

Donations - JustGiving £3.46 In memory of Ian Cox £70.00 Sale of books £17.10 Sale of stamps £24.00 Coach trip £143.00 Outgoings (Total £624.98)

JustGiving fees £54.00 Coach trip £350.00 Parking fees (Education Days) £42.10 Conference accommodation £155.00 Postage £23.88 Best wishes, Terry

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BRITISH TRANSPLANT GAMES 2014 Bolton, 7-10 August by Shireen

Hi everyone!

I attended my very first British Transplant Games this year. I was extremely nervous about going and not knowing anyone, but Ayesha and Rich were like my family when we were away! Thank you, guys, for making me so welcome and looking after me! I had a fabulous time and, as Ayesha predicted, I have definitely got the bug! A summary: Thursday: I had the Ayesha driving . . . ahem . . . experience - we took a slight detour and took in the sites of the Manchester ring road. The journey seemed quick as we chatted all the way. :-) Archery in the morning when we arrived, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Friday: Badminton, also great, and I watched Ayesha

bring home bronze in the tennis. Saturday: early morning, I competed in the table tennis and won my first medal!! Woo hoo for my silver! Later I swapped my team t-shirt for a physio one pool-side, and spent most of the day treating soggy athletes! Saturday night consisted of dancing, lots of cha cha cha and much twirling with snake-hips himself (Rich). The Edinburgh and Coventry teams got me completely sozzled! Great fun.

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Sunday at the track,supporting. Well done Vince on

your silver medal! Spent the afternoon shopping and having lunch with Ayesha, and then a pamper and beautify session before the Gala Dinner. Speeches too long, dancing too short. Food was nice and made lots of friends!

I had a great time and didn't want it to end! Roll on Gateshead!!

Message from the team captain, Declan:

The medals tally was as follows: Ayesha Silver Badminton Bronze Archery Bronze Tennis Shireen Silver Table tennis Vince Silver Discus Bronze Badminton Bronze Tennis Rich Slim pickings Many members of the Coventry Crocks were absent for health/holiday reasons, but we all hope to be back for Gateshead 2015, which will take place from Thursday 30

July to Sunday 2 August. Why not think about

joining us? Declan

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CWKPA EVENTS Trip To Bourton-on-the-Water by Kate Sunday 21

st September 2014, 7.30 am . . . my alarm

clock trilled, and I knew that, for once, I couldn’t hit the snooze button – it was the day of the KPA charabanc trip to Bourton-on-the Water in the Cotswolds, and I had to be at the Memorial Park in Coventry by 9.00 am. The coach trip there and back was very smooth, thanks to Ridley’s Coaches. The journey took less than an hour each way, and we had the whole day in Bourton. The weather was great – sunny, and the sky was blue for most of the day. People dispersed to the various attractions of the town . . . Birdland, for those of an ornithological bent, the Model Village, the Motoring Museum, the Model Railway Museum etc etc. (I have avoided model villages since nearly being arrested in one when a young relative derailed the model steam engine. Well, not nearly being arrested – but it was a difficult moment! Luckily, the errant train was re-positioned and sent on its way, just before the next train arrived. I digress – back to our day out.) I spent the day meandering round the town with a pal, and watching the ducks on the river that runs through the middle. There is plenty of seating if you just want

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to watch the world go by, and some nice shops, and plenty of pubs and cafes. When we reassembled at 6pm for the trip back, everyone was full of tales about what they had seen – a thoroughly good day out, and here we are:

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CWKPA Craft Evening

Grace’s choice of what to teach us this year was a festive table centre. We had a tremendous laugh and people produced some great results: (Clockwise from top left: Alan, Val & Mike, Graham, Grace)

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THAT’S ONE OFF THE (BUCKET) LIST!

Have you started yours yet? Your bucket list I mean – you know, that list of things you want to do before you … well … kick the bucket! I have, and I ticked the first one off recently. Now I was a huge fan of London 2012, and have made an annual pilgrimage each year – OK, only twice so far – to see the changes that are happening to the Olympic Park as it opens up to welcome the public. It is easy to get to by public transport; the Stratford Underground station is less than a 10 minute stroll and it is very well signposted, avoiding the temptations of the huge Westfield shopping centre. (Save that for after you’ve seen the park, if your weary feet will allow). Whilst some of the stadia that hosted the sport during the Olympics have been taken down, and in one case moved to Rio for 2016, the main Stadium, the Velodrome and the Aquatic Centre remain, the latter two already open to the public to use. Cue bucket list no. 1: to swim in the Olympic Pool at the London 2012 Aquatic Centre.

At the beginning of July I boarded the Euston-bound express with the sole purpose of swimming 100 metres. A quick search on Google (other search engines are available ) found that the ten-lane 50 metre pool is open to Joe Blogs public from 8.30–5.30 for the amazing price of £3 50. This allows you to wander throughout the building – I sat in the splendid auditorium and did a

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Facebook selfie and check-in (had to be done), and also use of the second 50 metre pool, used for warm up and cool downs in the Olympics, but now adapted as a fun pool. Swimming in the actual pool used in the Olympics was AMAZING. You walk out from the changing area down the same corridor as the Olympians, the (optional) starting blocks are all in place, and unlike most other pools, there is a large space before the start end where the competitor would sit, get ready and TV cameras would be based. The pool is a level depth of 3 metres (nearly ten feet) and although I am a confident swimmer, I opted for the slow lanes (I am slow anyway) as these were both by the walls. I have never swum in such clear water and the 100 metre target soon increased. I understand the Aquatic Centre itself is up for this year’s Sterling Prize for Architecture and it would be a worthy winner. It is stunningly beautiful as well as very practical and adaptable. I would urge all swimmers and cyclists among you to have a look at what’s on offer at the Park – it will mean a day to remember. Back to the bucket list: In 2015 the Olympic Stadium reopens, so I aim to run on the track, want to see England FC play at Wembley and go ice skating in Central Park. It’s great – I just keep adding new things. I realise that I am very fortunate to have received a transplant in 1990 and it is that gift that allows me to do all these things but I hope my donor would have approved of the things me and Kenneth (kidney) get up to! Sarah Lewis

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THE KOURIER KROSSWORD

Across Down

1 Scary giants (5) 1 Unit of resistance (3)

6 Iron/carbon alloy (5) 2 Armenian village (3)

11 _ _ _ Radley (3) 3 Stock Exchange comms company (3)

14 Capital of Vietnam (5) 4 Gastric reflux in kids (3)

15 Din (5) 5 Alarms (6)

16 Dr Dre’s genre (3) 6 Gastropod mollusc (5)

17 Skinflint (5) 7 Joiner’s plane handle (4)

18 Moses’ brother (5) 8 Southern Ireland (4)

19 Eisenhower abbr (3) 9 UK Orchestra, abbr (3)

20 Best of a group (5) 10 Extent (6)

22 Rice unit (5) 11 Snail, Magic Roundabout (5)

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24 Endless (7) 12 US depression vagabond (3)

28 Does penance (6) 13 Goes into business (5)

29 Belief in one god (6) 21 Tibetan priest (4)

30 Combat (5) 23 Turning round (8)

32 Fifty per cent (4) 24 Guiding beliefs (5)

33 Positive electrode (5) 25 Chief - Macbeth was one (5)

35 Played with a bow (4) 26 Conger catcher (5)

39 Romanian gymnast (4) 27 Armed soldier (8)

40 Before (3) 28 How old something is (3)

41 Adolescent (4) 30 Compel (5)

42 Shrivelled, dry (4) 31 A useful thought (4)

43 Rot, eg of teeth (5) 34 Requirement (4)

45 _ _ _ _ Nastase (4) 36 Sub-lease (5)

46 UK horse eventer (5) 37 Kapok tree (5)

48 One-celled animal (6) 38 US actor Ryan (1,4)

50 Parts of a flower (6) 43 _ _ _ Kapital (3)

53 A type of brain lobe (7) 44 Eg wool (4)

54 Circular (5) 47 First-born (6)

55 Portents (5) 49 Muslim temple (6)

57 Country code, Israel (3) 50 Self-respect (5)

58 Latin genus, heather (5) 51 Red fluorescent dye (5)

60 HM Elizabeth (5) 52 Rotates (5)

65 Noise (3) 53 Phobias (5)

66 Of the sun (5) 55 Lubricates (4)

67 Join together (5) 56 Mephedrone, abbr (4)

68 A French town (3) 59 Fish eggs (3)

69 Examinations (5) 61 UK actress Stubbs (3)

70 Alleviated (5) 62 Frozen wasser (3)

63 Hot time in Paris (3)

64 US actor Beatty (3)

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SUDOKU

© Clarity Media Ltd, clarity-media.co.uk

© Clarity Media Ltd, clarity-media.co.uk

Easy

Medium

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CHRISTMAS KOURIER KWIZ © Businessballs.com 2007. Used with permission. All the answers are associated with Christmas

1 Pleased proud puppet? 2 Gum olibanum, from the tree Boswellia sacra? 3 Genus Ilex?

4 ...thought, an old term for a wishbone? 5 Marketing/technology term for the busiest day each

year for online shopping? 6 Very old 'logging' term, cognate with Old Norse ‘jol’? 7 Widely used title of high authority, in English was

originally 'hlafweard', meaning bread-keeper? 8 Dickensian metaphor, mean with money? 9 Originally, in English, a student residence, preserved

in Gray's and Lincoln's? 10 9, 18, 22, 79 are significant? 11 Beast of burden, Equus asinus? 12 Pre-1948 widely used unit of luminous intensity? 13 A side in a contract or dispute? 14 Conducted mission of preaching and healing, with

reported miracles, in Palestine, c.28-30 AD? 15 Arabian and Bactrian varieties? 16 Alternative name for the plant Sweet Cicely, from its

Latin name? 17 Milk/cream, sugar, beaten eggs, and liquor drink? 18 Malaikah in the Qur'an, and Mal'akh in the Hebrew

Bible? 19 Originally Old English 'haligdaeg', meaning 'holy day'? 20 From Latin, 'a spark', showy?

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THE KOURIER KROSSWORD SOLUTION Crossword puzzle provided by BestCrosswords.com (http://www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission.

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SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

© Clarity Media Ltd, clarity-media.co.uk

© Clarity Media Ltd, clarity-media.co.uk

Easy

Medium

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ANSWERS TO THE CHRISTMAS KOURIER KWIZ © Businessballs.com 2007. Used with permission 1 Punch 2 Frankincense 3 Holly

4 Merry 5 Cyber Monday 6 Yule 7 Lord 8 Scrooge 9 Inn 10 Gold – carat measurements, and the element number 11 Donkey (or ass) 12 Candle 13 Party 14 Jesus Christ 15 Camel 16 Myrrh 17 Egg nog 18 Angel 19 Holiday 20 Tinsel

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COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE KIDNEY PATIENTS' ASSOCIATION Membership of the Coventry and Warwickshire Kidney Patients' Association is open to all kidney patients, relatives and friends plus anyone who is interested in the welfare of kidney patients. If you would like to join, please complete the form below. Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss (please delete as appropriate) First name: Surname: Address: Postcode: Tel: E mail: Patients - please delete (*) as necessary: I am a home dialysis patient/*hospital dialysis patient/*transplant patient/*CAPD patient/other Non-patients - please indicate your interest in this Association:

If you have any comments, suggestions, ideas etc, please let the Chairperson know.

Please send the completed form to:

Secretary - Vivienne Dodds 51 Magyar Crescent Nuneaton CV11 4SQ Telephone - 024 7638 406