title: Rapid diagnostic service for patients with haematuria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of a clinic for the investigation of haematuria, with open access to general practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 395 patients (198 men and 197 women), with mean age 51 years (range 19-73), were referred from 13 general practitioner clinics. All investigations were performed at the patient's first visit at which time either a provisional or a definitive diagnosis was made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urinary tract infection was the most common diagnosis. Of all the patients, 43 (11%) had a malignancy of whom nine presented with microscopic haematuria. Fifty-nine per cent of patients were discharged after their first visit and 26% were placed on the waiting list for in-patient procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An open access clinic such as this is efficient and easily run. The high incidence of pathological abnormalities makes it a worthwhile facility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Waymont
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014567:Urography