Can timed appointments for community staff improve care?

A new Patient's Charter standard relating to timed appointments for community nurses was introduced in 1995. To date, research considering the implications of this standard has been limited, particularly in terms of rural communities. This paper describes a study which explores the issues surrounding the implementation of the standard in rural Shropshire. It measured the success rate with which the standard was met and considered the perceptions of nurses and clients. The paper concludes that if a 100% success rate in meeting the standard is to be achieved significant changes will need to take place in the organisation of community nursing services.