In many ways this book is a team effort. Many people have helped me in writing it. Firstly, I thank my wife who read the manuscript twice correcting grammatical errors and spelling and clarifying many sentences. Secondly, I thank friends and colleagues at St. Mary's Hospital, including Mrs Jean Emerson, Renal Unit Social Worker and Mrs June Morgan, Senior Dietician, both of whom contributed technical information; Sisters Christine Holmes and Malinie Polpitiye who read and criticized some chapters; Miss Mary Williams, Mr Robert Minor and Mr Richard Viner who as patients read some sections and...

Secondly, I thank friends and colleagues at St. Mary's Hospital, including Mrs Jean Emerson, Renal Unit Social Worker and Mrs June Morgan, Senior Dietician, both of whom contributed technical information;