26/02/2026
Yesterday, Lucy Vasiliou, NKF Policy and Public Affairs Manager attended a roundtable event, hosted by Kidney Care UK at Holyrood, Scotland, to discuss the mental and social impact of kidney disease and the ongoing lack of psychosocial support available to patients and families across Scotland.
It was incredibly powerful to hear directly from people living with kidney disease about the very real psychological impact it has on their lives, and how vital accessible, specialist support is. Lucy spoke with representatives from the Scottish kidney community and Kidney Patient Associations about the challenges they face in accessing consistent care and services.
The Roundtable event heard examples of excellent practice, including support provided by renal social workers and consultant psychiatrists in Edinburgh, the Renal Young Adult Support Service in NHS Lothian and Borders, and paediatric and adult psychological services in Glasgow. These examples show clearly that when psychosocial support is available, it can be truly life-changing.
However, the stark postcode lottery in accessing this essential yet under-resourced element of kidney care remains deeply concerning. Where you live should not determine whether you receive the psychological and social support you need to cope with a life-changing diagnosis.
There was a welcome commitment from the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, to continue working closely with the kidney community and to maintain discussions on this issue. Support was also expressed by Jackie Baillie MSP to help amplify the message that increased funding and dedicated resources are urgently needed.
Reports from across the kidney community, including the recent findings highlighting gaps in psychosocial provision, set out clear recommendations for change. At the National Kidney Federation, we will continue to work collaboratively with partners across Scotland to push for equitable, properly funded psychosocial support services so that kidney patients and their families are no longer left to cope alone.
