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Rapid access for patients with head and neck lumps
1ENT Department, Southport General Infirmary.
Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|April 30, 2002
Summary
A new rapid access clinic for suspected cancer patients with neck lumps successfully met the two-week wait target for most patients. This initiative aimed to improve patient care and adhere to government guidelines for specialist appointments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- The New NHS: Modern, Dependable white paper mandated a two-week wait for specialist appointments for suspected cancer referrals.
- Southport General Infirmary established a rapid access clinic for neck lump referrals to meet this target.
Purpose of the Study:
- To audit a new rapid access clinic for neck lump referrals.
- To assess adherence to the two-week wait target for specialist appointments.
Main Methods:
- A protocol was developed for managing patients referred to the rapid access clinic.
- The clinic's performance was audited over its initial six months of operation.
Main Results:
- The rapid access clinic provided a timely and quality service for 58 patients.
- 84% (49 out of 58) of patients were seen within the two-week target.
- Delays in GP referrals and patient appointment attendance impacted the remaining cases.
Conclusions:
- The rapid access clinic effectively improved service delivery for neck lump patients.
- The clinic demonstrated success in meeting national targets for cancer patient referrals.
- Addressing referral and appointment logistics is key to optimizing patient wait times.