GLOUCESTERSHIRE Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Hospital and kidney charities are teaming up to raise awareness about the importance of our kidneys ahead of World Kidney Day.

The Trust is working with the Gloucestershire Kidney Patients Association to raise awareness of the importance to life of your kidneys, how you can look after yourself and the risk factors for kidney disease.

To mark World Kidney Day tomorrow, kidney patients who have received a kidney transplant or who are on dialysis will join medical staff from the Renal Ward in The Atrium at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital between 10am and 4pm.

Transplant patient Geoff Gidley will be on hand to talk to staff and members of the public.

He said: “The more you know about it the better and you might just save a life: yours.” His wife Lily donated the kidney three years ago and he says it has been a real life changer.

“I had no idea I was ill at first, and it was only a routine blood test that showed the problem was there,” he said.

Dr Preetham Boddana, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Lead Consultant Nephrologist, said: "Chronic Kidney Disease is common, harmful and treatable.

"However, it can go undetected as people often have no symptoms, although people with high blood pressure, diabetes and those from certain ethnic groups have a higher risk.

“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."