Wales Elections 2026
On the 7th May voters across Wales will head to the polls to elect the next Welsh Parliaments.Kidney Care UK and Kidney Wales are partnering together and are calling on the next government in Wales to improve care for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Irrespective of the outcome, the elections will provide a valuable opportunity to get better support and treatment in place for people with CKD.
Why the next government in Wales must act on CKD
- Hundreds of thousands are affected: An estimated 377,000 people in Wales have chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- CKD is rising and millions are being spent: CKD is estimated to be costing the economy more than £361 million in Wales. Sharp increases in CKD prevalence and cost will continue with an ageing population and projected growth in diabetes and other risk factors such as high blood pressure.
- Employment rates are low and missed work days are high: Employment rates among people on dialysis are just 26%. Between 2022 and 2032, CKD in the UK is projected to result in 81.6 million missed workdays in people diagnosed with CKD, and 11.9 million missed workdays by carers of people with CKD
- The transplant waiting list is growing – yet more people are developing kidney failure. This will only get worse if rapid action is not taken
Have your ‘kidney voice’ heard at the Welsh elections
We encourage you to tell your local candidates why CKD is important and what changes and developments you would like to see.
Email your local candidates
Send an email to the candidates in your local area, asking them how they will work to champion kidney disease if they are elected.
Discuss CKD and ask your local candidates some questions face to face
Ahead of the election, your local candidates will be out and about in your area trying to get your vote. We encourage you to discuss CKD with your local candidates and ask them what they will do to place kidney disease on the political agenda if they are elected:
Many may not know very much about CKD, so it’s good for them to hear from you about the challenges of living with the condition and what the next government in Scotland/ Wales should do to better support kidney patients.
Here are some questions you may like to ask your local candidates:
- Early diagnosis can delay progression of kidney disease and keep people healthier for longer Q. How would you make sure everyone knows about CKD and more cases are spotted early?.
- Kidney disease can be difficult to live with and one in three people with CKD develop depression, yet kidney patients cannot get the mental health support they need Q. How would you work to make sure the NHS meets people’s mental health needs as well as their physical health?.
- A kidney transplant is considered the gold standard of treatment for kidney failure, yet the transplant waiting list is growing – Q. Could I rely on you to raise the profile of organ donation if you were elected?.
- Services and support for patients with kidney disease are often influenced by where they live – Q. Would you commit to ending the post code lottery of kidney care?.
Keep us informed: If you speak to a candidate about CKD, or receive a response to your email please let us know what they said by emailing [email protected] and this will be picked up by our joint Policy Officer Anny Anderson.
Who are my local candidates and how can I contact them?
Wales:
Have you registered to vote?
You must register to vote by 11:59pm on 20 April 2026 to take part in the elections in Wales.
If you’re not sure whether you’re registered to vote, you can check by contacting your local Electoral Registration Office.