Paediatricians' views on renal services for children and adolescents in Scotland.
BACKGROUND
Paediatric nephrology is a small subspecialty whose patients are widely scattered geographically within Scotland making provision of uniform and optimal care difficult.


OBJECTIVE
We set out to determine what services are provided throughout Scotland as well as seeking paediatricians' views on improving services for children and adolescents with renal disease.


METHODS
All 12 paediatric units in Scotland were visited and a senior consultant within each unit undertook to complete a questionnaire on behalf of his or her unit.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were returned by 11/12 centres (92%). The scope of renal services offered varied widely. Most (10/11) favoured a 'shared care' approach using the comprehensive paediatric nephrology service in Glasgow as a focal point. Outreach services and a telephone advisory service were suggested by 7/10 and 6/10 units respectively. The development of a Scottish paediatric nephrology group was supported by 10/11 centres returning the questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
There is both a need and an interest in developing a national strategy for paediatric nephrology in Scotland.
Willis
F R
FR
Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow.
Murphy
A V
AV
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009398:Nephrology; D010372:Pediatrics; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires