The patient's viewpoint.

I would first like to outline the function of the National Federation of Kidney Patients’ Associations. The organization was founded in October 1978, mainly to act as an information exchange for the growing number of voluntary patients’ associations which were being formed at renal units throughout the country. Since then we have developed into the prime organization representing patients’ views and we have established valuable links with the Department of Health up to Ministerial level. We have 33 member associations from every part of the country and our emphasis is on patient participation; our constitution requires that our executive committee consists of a majority of patients. Collectively we represent about 5000 patients and the total funds raised by our member associations runs into many hundreds of thousands of pounds each year. We are unique in that we are the only national organization in the country run by kidney patients for kidney patients.