Staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) are helping to raise awareness of kidney disease as part of the World Kidney Day 2014 celebrations in the UK.

The hospital is hosting an open day on Thursday 13 March 2014 to stress the importance of looking after your kidneys and how you can reduce the risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The QEHB, which is run by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), hopes that in raising awareness of this important subject, lives could be saved.

Dr Clara Day, Consultant Nephrologist, said: "CKD is common, harmful and treatable. However, it can go undetected as people often have no symptoms. Those with high blood pressure, diabetes and people from certain ethnic groups have a higher risk.

“However, the good news is that early detection, changes in lifestyle and a healthy diet can often slow down the progression of the disease, delaying the possible need for dialysis or transplantation."

The awareness day is being supported by QEHB Charity which funds equipment, research and training over and above that which the NHS provides.

Charity Chief Executive Mike Hammond, said: “Please get behind the QEHB Charity and help share the World Kidney Day UK message - Kidney Health Matters - help reduce the risk to your kidneys."

For more information about World Kidney Day in the UK, including support, advice, ideas for other activities and downloadable resources please visit the Kidney Research UK website. For information on the global initiative, visit the World Kidney Day website.