Introducing the launch of Kidney Beam, a new, free online platform for all kidney patients, offering movement, fitness, physical and emotional wellbeing sessions, designed especially for people living with kidney disease. The British Renal Society and the Renal Association fully support this project.
A broad team of practitioners led by Dr Sharlene Greenwood from King’s College Hospital have developed the programme. Kidney Beam has a choice of live and on-demand classes led by NHS kidney professionals and other qualified instructors, some who are themselves living with kidney disease.
Kidney Research UK are funding a six-month pilot to establish the activity and to develop the classes and sessions using participant feedback to adapt and enhance the offering. We want Kidney Beam to be sustained in the long term as a free resource for kidney patients at every stage of their health condition and to be used by the whole kidney community.
How it works
Kidney Beam gives patients the chance to take control of their mental and physical wellbeing at their own pace, with guidance (if needed), from people who understand the complexities of kidney health.
The online platform is hosted by specialist kidney professionals – from renal physiotherapists to renal counsellors – from a number of different NHS trusts and backgrounds, as well as people living with kidney disease. And it has broad appeal – it’s aimed at anyone over 16, with any ability, any kidney condition, and at any stage of kidney disease.
All classes have a fitness rating so patients can choose the right one for them. At the beginning and end of the classes people can chat to each other and the instructors, building friendships which might help them stay motivated.
With free, open access, patients anywhere can sign up to the service without a referral being needed from their doctor or consultant. However, we know that clinician recommendations were the most effective way of recruiting patients to the platform when it was developed for people with cystic fibrosis so please do share a link to the platform with your patients and advise them it is free to sign-up until the 30th November 2020 if they choose ‘kidney disease’. Here is the link https://beamfeelgood.com/home
We are excited that the platform will give patients an easy, fun way to improve their health by bringing the experts, friends and health studio to them, wherever they are.
We hope you will be able to support this very exciting project. Here is a link if you would like to take a tour of the platform https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtV2xefQ0Nc&feature=youtu.be
If you have any further queries do get in touch.
Sharlene Greenwood
sharlene.greenwood@beamfeelgood.com
For technical support:
Herolin Lindup 02081947470