Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kidney Patients Association (Qehkpa)
Charity 513446
Overview
Summary
Qehkpa appears to function less as a conventional patient charity and more as a connective layer around the Queen Elizabeth Hospital renal pathway. It combines peer communication, patient involvement, practical information and fundraising across a wide network of dialysis locations. Its distinctive role may be to reduce the isolation and fragmentation that can accompany long-term renal care, while giving patients a collective voice and supporting hospital-led information and research.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Edgbaston
Confidence: high
Direct evidence places the association's core beneficiary group, patient-involvement activity and renal information work at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. The hospital is officially described as being in Edgbaston. The association does not claim to own or lease a site there, so this represents delivery through the hospital renal service rather than an independently operated premises.
- QEHKPA / Kidney Matters website
The association says its newsletter is sent to renal patients receiving treatment at the Q.E. or satellite units, and that its patient information is produced by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Renal Department. - Charity Commission register, charity 513446
The charity reports active involvement in hospital patient involvement, treatment and care of renal patients, patient information and renal research for patients at the Q.E. Hospital. - University Hospitals Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham location page
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Aston
Confidence: medium
The association's current website directly says that copies of its newsletter are available at the Aston dialysis unit. This demonstrates a recurring service/information-distribution presence through a partner clinical site, but not that QEHKPA runs the unit or has its own premises there.
- QEHKPA / Kidney Matters website
The website states that the newsletter is posted three times a year and that copies are available in each dialysis unit, including Aston. - Charity Commission register, charity 513446
The charity's reported activities include care and welfare for renal patients who receive dialysis at Aston.
Sparkhill
Confidence: medium
The association's current website directly identifies the Sparkhill dialysis unit as a location holding copies of its newsletter. This is evidence of regular operational reach via the renal-service network, rather than evidence of a QEHKPA-owned or staffed site.
- QEHKPA / Kidney Matters website
The website states that the newsletter is posted three times a year and that copies are available in each dialysis unit, including Sparkhill. - Charity Commission register, charity 513446
The charity's reported activities include care and welfare for renal patients who receive dialysis at Sparkhill.
Remaining uncertainties
- QEHKPA's direct physical presence appears concentrated around the Queen Elizabeth Hospital renal service, but the available evidence does not show that it maintains a staffed office, clinic or dedicated space at the hospital or satellite units. Its 2024 trustees' report says it does not own or rent offices or buildings.
- The association's reach extends materially through University Hospitals Birmingham's renal and satellite-dialysis network. The evidence supports distribution of information and support to patients at these units, but does not establish which activities, if any, are delivered in person at each location.
- Kings Norton and Woodgate Valley are named as dialysis-unit locations, but the available evidence does not establish which ward areas those sites are in. They have therefore not been assigned to an operational area.
- The charity's stated operational footprint includes places outside Birmingham, including Herefordshire, Sandwell, Staffordshire, Walsall, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, and its website also names Llandrindod Wells. Its overall footprint is therefore regional rather than citywide, despite its Birmingham-centred operational identity.
Additional evidence needed
- A current QEHKPA annual report or delivery plan specifying which hospital and satellite-unit activities are funded, staffed or delivered directly by the association.
- Confirmation from QEHKPA or University Hospitals Birmingham of whether the association has regular in-person sessions, patient representatives or designated space at Queen Elizabeth Hospital or any satellite dialysis unit.
- Evidence establishing which supplied Birmingham ward areas include the Kings Norton and Woodgate Valley dialysis units.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Disability
- General Charitable Purposes
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Services
- Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A distributed patient network rather than a single-site support group
The association appears to connect patients across the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and numerous satellite dialysis units, creating a shared identity and information channel across an otherwise geographically dispersed care pathway.
Why it matters
This suggests its value may lie partly in bridging divisions between treatment sites, where patients could otherwise have limited contact with one another or with wider renal-community activity.
Show evidence
“Patients receive dialysis at Aston, Great Bridge, Lichfield, Woodgate, Kings Norton, Sparkhill, Smethwick, Worcester, Hereford, Llandrindod Wells and U.H.B.”
Source:Organisation“Kidney Matters is sent to renal patients receiving treatment at the Q.E. or satellite units.”
Source:Organisation
Communication is used as a form of care
Its newsletter, patient stories, treatment information and dietary material suggest that the association treats accessible, continuing information as part of patient welfare, not merely as publicity.
Why it matters
This helps explain how a volunteer association can contribute between clinical appointments: by supporting confidence, practical decision-making and connection for patients and carers.
Show evidence
“The newsletter is intended to keep patients and carers informed and provide a link for patients who may feel isolated due to their condition.”
Source:Organisation“The website includes information on treatments, diet, holidays, general health and patient stories.”
Source:Organisation
It appears embedded in, but distinct from, clinical renal services
Qehkpa appears to occupy an intermediary role: it amplifies hospital-produced information and participates in patient involvement, while retaining an independent fundraising and peer-support function.
Why it matters
This positioning may allow it to translate between institutional care and lived experience, but it also raises useful questions about how independent its priorities and patient representation are in practice.
Show evidence
“The association plays an active part in patient involvement in the hospital, treatment and care of renal patients, patient information and renal research.”
Source:Organisation“Patient information leaflets are produced by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Renal Department.”
Source:Organisation“The charity provides advocacy, advice and information, sponsors or undertakes research, and acts as an umbrella or resource body.”
Source:Charity Commission
- How funds are allocated between direct patient support, research, information and grants.
- Whether all satellite-unit communities have comparable access to representation and support.
- How patients influence hospital decisions through the association.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports, accounts and grant records showing spending, income sources and funded priorities.
- Evidence of patient involvement structures, participant feedback and partnerships with renal services or other charities.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
For the care, welfare of Renal Patients at the Q. E. Hospital, and who receive dialysis at Aston, Great Bridge, Lichfield, Woodgate, Kings Norton, Sparkhill, Smethwick, Worcester, Hereford, LLandrindod Wells and U.H.B. We play an active part in Patient Involvement in the Hospital, Treatment and care of Renal patients, Patient Information and Renal Research.
Charity objects
TO PROMOTE THROUGHOUT THE AREA COVERED BY THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL THE RELIEF OF PERSONS SUFFERING FROM RENAL OR KIDNEY DISEASE.