Episode 141: Beyond the GP: Making Primary Care Work for Kidney Health, Part 2

How do you know when your kidney health needs more than GP care—and how can you make sure you’re getting the right tests, referrals, and treatment?

 

In this powerful follow-up to Episode 139, host Dee Moore is once again joined by Dr. Kristin Veighey for Part 2 of “Beyond the GP: Making Primary Care Work for Kidney Health.” Together, they dive deeper into the realities of managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the primary care setting, giving patients the tools to advocate for themselves and get the support they need.

 

This episode answers the questions so many patients ask but rarely get clear guidance on:

 

✅ Know your risk factors – from diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease to family history and medications that can affect kidney function.

✅ Why urine tests matter – and why they often reveal problems years before blood tests.

✅ Diabetes and CKD – the number one cause of kidney disease in the UK, and why tighter blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose targets are essential.

✅ When to push for referral – understanding the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE), what “CKD stage 4 or 5” really means, and why you don’t have to wait until dialysis is on the table.

✅ The role of the multidisciplinary team – how pharmacists, nurses, and other professionals in primary care can help streamline your care and reduce unnecessary appointments.

✅ Targets that protect your kidneys – the real numbers you should be aiming for with blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.

 

🎯 Whether you’re newly diagnosed or already living with CKD, this episode gives you actionable strategies to protect your kidneys, prevent decline, and get the care you deserve.

 

Dr. Veighey also stresses the importance of knowing your numbers, asking the right questions, and never accepting “it’s fine” without evidence. This is about empowerment, early detection, and personalised care—because the earlier CKD is recognised, the better your long-term outcomes.

 

🔑 Key Takeaway: Your kidneys can’t wait. Urine tests, regular monitoring, and proactive conversations with your GP or pharmacist can make the difference between stability and progression to dialysis.

 

🎧 Tune in now to Episode 141 of the Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast to learn how to take control of your kidney health journey, advocate for yourself, and make primary care work for you.

 

👉🏽👉 Don’t miss Part 1 (Episode 139) if you haven’t already—where we explored the foundations of primary care, misconceptions, and the hidden roles of the wider healthcare team.

 

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