Kidney patients get extra help with water bills

South West Water (SWW) is offering support for customers living with chronic kidney disease through its priority services register.

The register gives support for vulnerable people with a range of needs from having their meter read more regularly, to having bills in large print.

Kidney Care UK's partnership with the water provider means any of its clients can sign up with the register.

Laurie Cuthbert, director of fundraising, marketing and communications at Kidney Care UK, said it was an "exciting partnership to transform the support our kidney community will receive in the South West of England".

South West Water said it supports more than 118,000 customers on the register, a free service that is available to customers who need help in managing their water bill and who could be at risk if there were to be problems with their water supply.

Kidney Care UK said through its partnership with SWW, more than 110,000 people with kidney disease in the South West region could benefit from the support.

Dani Twelvetree, SWW's head of customer communication and engagement, said the firm was "delighted to be working with Kidney Care UK".

"Through our priority services register we are able to provide support, so no customers affected by chronic kidney disease have the added worry of how they are going to pay their water bill."

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