[Responsibilities of a nephrology department]

In 1979 a special department for kidney-disease and hypertensives was established in the federal republic of Germany which was completely independent and not part of a University-hospital. It consists of a small ward, an out-patient-department and has close contacts with a central transplantation-team. The figures presented demonstrate the necessity for department with the shown form of organization and prove the advantages for such patients which can be treated close to their homes.