Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects 8.8% of adults in the UK. When kidney disease progresses past a certain point the blood filtering role of the kidneys need to be replaced. This is carried out through dialysis.

For those that select haemodialysis as their treatment of choice, in order for them to receive the gold standard care they need to preserve their veins.

Vein preservation means protecting key veins in the elbow crease and wrist from blood tests and intravenous lines. Wherever possible, blood should be taken from the back of the hand. This knowledge was found to be very poorly known amongst healthcare staff and patients.

Save Your Vein is a health awareness campaign that aims to increase knowledge and practice of vein preservation amongst healthcare staff and renal patients. It consists of alert cards, wristbands, leaflets and posters for patients and education sessions and lanyards for staff.

Save Your Vein has been shown to increase the number of patients receiving the gold standard AV fistula and as a result is reducing morbidity to the patient and cost of care to the healthcare provider.