The limited supply of cadaveric kidneys results in failure to offer transplantation to all dialysis patients who might benefit. To survey current UK attitudes to selection for renal transplantation and to assess the influence on these attitudes of the shortage of cadaveric donor kidneys, a questionnaire including 20 case histories was circulated to 190 nephrologists and transplant surgeons involved in renal transplantation in the UK. The response rate was 79%. The acceptance rate of individual patients for renal transplantation varied from 19 to 100% of respondents. Almost all patients were significantly (P < 0.05) more likely to be selected for transplantation if an adequate supply of kidneys were available. A correlation was noted between the responses from nephrologists working in Transplant Units and the percentages of their dialysis patients on transplant waiting lists (P < 0.01). This survey strongly suggests that more UK dialysis patients would be offered renal transplantation if the supply of cadaveric kidneys were adequate, and so the current national waiting list, although lengthy, understates the potential demand. Finally, this survey shows the wide variation that exists among both nephrologists and transplant surgeons in their attitude to patient selection for transplantation.