title: Establishing a minor illness nurse in a busy general practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the feasibility of a practice nurse caring for patients with minor illnesses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nurse given training in dealing with patients with minor illnesses. Patients requesting a same day appointment were offered a nurse consultation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group practice in Stockton on Tees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number of consultations which required a doctor contact, treatment, and rate of reconsultation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 696 consultations in six months, 602 (86%) required no doctor contact. 549 (79%) patients did not reconsult about the episode of illness, and 343 (50%) patients were given advice on self care only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trained nurses could diagnose and treat a large proportion of patients currently consulting general practitioners about minor illness provided that the nurse has immediate access to a doctor.
authors.affiliation: Norton Medical Centre, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dawes
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D004739:England; D017050:Episode of Care; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload