Martin Barratt obituary

Paediatric nephrologist whose research led to the improved treatment of common childhood kidney diseasesMartin Barratt, who has died aged 77 from a progressive form of muscular dystrophy, was professor of paediatric nephrology at the Institute of Child Health, London, and consultant nephrologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. He was one of the first to establish a specialist service for children with kidney diseases in Britain, developing a model of interdisciplinary care that was later adopted by many other centres throughout the world. His research led to improved understanding and treatment of many common childhood kidney diseases. He was role model, mentor, supervisor and teacher to me and many of the current generation of paediatricians and paediatric nephrologists.Today all major children's hospitals have teams of consultants providing specialist services for children, and paediatric nephrology is a well-established specialty. Before the 1970s care of children with kidney disorders was usually provided by general paediatricians with an interest in nephrology, who often had commitments to several hospitals. Martin was one of the first of a new breed of specialist paediatricians, dedicated to full-time NHS hospital and university service, with a major commitment to research.At the time he entered the field most childhood kidney diseases were poorly understood. Martin saw research to improve understanding of diseases as inextricably linked to the provision o...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: theguardian.com Children Obituaries Medical research Hospitals NHS Science Source Type: news