WORLD KIDNEY DAY

That this House welcomes World Kidney Day on 8 March 2012 which seeks to improve the awareness, detection and treatment of kidney disease, including the life-saving role played by kidney transplantation; is concerned that over three million people face chronic kidney disease in the UK and that this number is expected to rise over the next 10 years; recognises that for around 26,000 people in the UK with kidney failure, dialysis is their lifeline, almost 7,000 of whom are waiting for a transplant; is alarmed that on average one person dies each day whilst waiting for a kidney transplant; understands the need for continued research into kidney transplantation; furtherwelcomes the ongoing work of NHS Blood and Transplant in improving the utilisation of donated kidneys as well as increasing the number of donors; further welcomes the work of the Kidney Alliance in drawing attention to the need for long-term commitment to kidney transplantation as an integral part of the full range of specialist kidney services, including dialysis; and calls on all hon. and right hon. Members to support both World Kidney Day and the on-going campaign to encourage more people to sign-up as potential organ donors.