Kidney Patients' Champion to receive an MBE

Sandy Lines who works as a dialysis support worker at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) is to be honoured with an MBE in this year's New Year's honours list.

Sandy has worked tirelessly over the past 11 years raising money with the United Norwich Kidney Patients Association (UNKPA), of which she is also Chairman, to enable renal patients and their partners to go on trips to the Netherlands where they can continue to enjoy all the benefits of being on holiday whilst continuing to receive lifesaving dialysis treatment.

Not content with just working with renal patients Sandy also completed her BA (Hons) in Professional Studies and graduated earlier this year from the University of East Anglia.

David Prior, Chairman, said “I am so pleased that Sandy has received this recognition. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of our patients who have to endure renal dialysis; and she has made a real difference to their quality of many of their lives. She is an exceptional person who fully deserves this honour”.

Sandy Lines said “This news came completely out of the blue and I was very surprised to have been recognised for the work I just do every day. However without the support of my colleagues on the Jack Pryor Renal Unit at the NNUH and at UNKPA I would not have been able to provide the services I do therefore I feel I am collecting this MBE on behalf of them all”.