Rapid access for patients with head and neck lumps.
BACKGROUND
In the White Paper The New NHS: Modern, Dependable (DoH 1997), the government states that anyone with suspected cancer will be able to be seen by a specialist within two weeks of referral by a GP. Staff at Southport General Infirmary set up a rapid access clinic for patients referred with a neck lump to meet these targets. A protocol was devised to deal with these new patients and the clinic was audited during the first six months to ensure that the two-week target was being met.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the audit showed that the rapid-access clinic was able to provide a fast, quality service for this small number (n = 58) of patients. The majority (n = 49) (84 per cent) of patients were seen within the target time. The remaining patients were not seen within the two-week target because of delays in receiving GP referrals and patients' difficulties in meeting the allocated appointment.
Robinson
J
J
ENT Department, Southport General Infirmary.
Chew
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013222:State Medicine / Q000592:standards; D013997:Time Factors