[Critical shortage of personnel in nephrology. Assessment of causes of the crisis and suggestion for solution]. / Bemanningskrise i nefrologien. Beskrivelse av årsaken til krisen og forslag til løsning.

The heavier work load for qualified nephrologists in Norway over the last ten years is described and compared with the number of positions. The increase in the number of dialysis treatments, care of renal transplant patients and other tasks performed by qualified nephrologists is roughly doubled from 1985 to 1995. By contrast the number of employed qualified nephrologists to pursue the work has only increased by 20% over the same period. As of today there is a lack of capacity to educate new nephrologists to fill up forthcoming vacancies. When the actual need for nephrologists is taken into account, the discrepancy is much more serious and will become even more so over the next ten years if no immediate action is taken. We suggest the establishment of six new educational positions. Altogether, these six new positions will provide the capacity to educate a reasonable number of trained nephrologists to meet future challenges, to the benefit of patients.

[Changes in consumption of blood--the significance of resource related and economic factors]. / Endringer i blodforbruk--betydningen av ressursmessige og økonomiske forhold.

During the period 1985 to 1991 there has been a marked change in consumption of blood, and at the National Hospital the number of transfusions decreased by 52% from 41,747 units. However, the number of admitted patients annually has remained unchanged and the patient pattern includes more complicated cases. We conclude that cost accounting, consumer-adapted reporting, vigilant follow-up and an active transfusion committee are important factors for the changes in blood consumption. Furthermore, the professional attitude towards surgical blood conservation techniques and modern haemotherapy have been consolidated at the hospital concerned.