Deaths from chronic renal failure under the age of 50. Medical Services Study Group of the Royal College of Physicians.

From a survey of the West Midlands and Mersey Regions and the Grampian Health Board, we found that in 1978 and 1979 some 122 patients with chronic renal failure died in hospital under the age of 50. Of these, 69 had been given dialysis or transplantation, or both, while for many reasons the remainder had been considered unsuitable. While the criteria varied, the reasons given for non-acceptance of cases seemed sound, and in no instance during this particular period was a patient denied dialysis because of a shortage of machines. We think that the public should be aware of these findings and not led to think that if only enough dialysis machines were available death from renal failure would be a rarity.