title: Outpatient staff carry out many minor procedures.
abstract: [Figure: see text] The future of outpatient departments has been questioned by the Department of Health (news September 27). Although I work on wards, I know that the staff in the outpatient department at the hospital where I work carry out a great many minor procedures. People who are referred to outpatients are unlikely to have staff simply repeat a history taking and say 'see you in six months' - they are far too busy for such niceties.
authors.affiliation: Sutton-in-Ashfield.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beastall