Endocrine Abstracts

Background: A Thyroid Nurse-Led Clinic (TNLC) was set up within the Department of Endocrinology in Oxford aiming primarily to reduce waiting times of patients with uncomplicated thyrotoxicosis from 3 to 4 months to 2 to 4 weeks. It proved to be a cost effective measure.

Aims: To explore the patients’ perspective on the provision of care and on the service delivery of the TNLC.

Patients and methods: A structured questionnaire with 22 questions involving patients’ views on care and management, nurse’s knowledge and skills, efficiency of the service and possible concerns were posted to the first 40 patients, who had been seen in the TNLC. All data were collected anonymously. Thirty questionnaires were returned over a four week interval.

Results: All patients (100%) were satisfied with the TNLC service. All (100%) felt confident, safe and secure with the nurse’s knowledge and satisfied with the explanation and understanding given of their thyroid condition. Ten percent would have preferred also to be seen by a doctor. Ten percent reported that they would not be happy for the nurse to prescribe their medications, but 97% were confident for the nurse to adjust their drug doses. Ninety-seven percent reported that they were informed promptly about their results and drug dose adjustments and were able to contact the helpline service. Amongst those who commented on positive aspects of the TNLC, 50% specified the importance of continuity of care provided by the same person.

Conclusion: The patients’ perception and experience of the TNLC, as reflected by their replies to our questionnaire, is positive and expands the benefits of this type of service.