Whitechapel’s Royal London Hospital is running a series of screening days for chronic kidney disease (CKD), targeting people of Black African and Caribbean heritage. The screenings take place every Saturday, 9.30am-3pm until 4th April.
CKD affects around three million people in the UK, many of whom are unaware of the condition. Identifying the disease is easy but it often goes undetected as those affected often display no symptoms. Early detection can slow down the progression of the disease, delaying the need for dialysis or transplantation.
No one knows why, but Black Africans and Caribbeans are 3 to 5 times more likely to suffer from kidney failure than white Caucasians. Other groups at a higher risk of developing the disease include people with a family history of the disease, people with high blood pressure or diabetes and South Asians. Anyone wishing to be screened should book an appointment by calling the Royal London Hospital on 020 7377 7236. Further information can be obtained from the Kidney Health Information Line on 0845 300 1499.
Appointments are completely free and will last for approximately 45 minutes. Patients will have their height, weight and blood pressure checked and will be asked for blood and urine samples.