title: Nurse-led management of carpal tunnel syndrome: an audit of outcomes and impact on waiting times.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article describes the outcome of a nurse-led service developed to manage patients referred with a presumptive diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a rapid-access service in response to unacceptable waiting times for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The service was developed around the role of a nurse practitioner providing a single practitioner pathway from first clinic appointment, through surgery to discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Waiting times improved considerably whilst the standard and quality of care was maintained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a role for nurses to perform certain surgical procedures within a well-defined environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK. martyn.newey@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Newey
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kershaw
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pathak
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000451:nursing*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists