title: An assessment clinic for routine paediatric otolaryngological surgery.
abstract: In the current climate of medical practice clinicians are under constant pressure to come up with new ways of increasing efficiency and throughput whilst maintaining a high standard of patient care. Assessment clinics are not a new idea and are widely practised in the National Health Service. The novel feature of the clinic we are describing is that all relevant professionals are present: consultant otolaryngologist, audiologist, paediatric nurse, playleader and preassessment nurse. The Wexham Park Paediatric Otolaryngology Preassessment Clinic has now been running for six years, and in this time we have experienced a marked decrease in both the waiting times for surgery and the non-attendance rate.
authors.affiliation: Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Vowles
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jefferis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D014850:Waiting Lists