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. 1995 Mar 25;310(6982):778-80.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.310.6982.778.

Establishing a minor illness nurse in a busy general practice

G N Marsh  1 , M L Dawes
Affiliations

Establishing a minor illness nurse in a busy general practice

G N Marsh et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objective: To study the feasibility of a practice nurse caring for patients with minor illnesses.

Design: Nurse given training in dealing with patients with minor illnesses. Patients requesting a same day appointment were offered a nurse consultation.

Setting: Group practice in Stockton on Tees.

Main outcome measures: Number of consultations which required a doctor contact, treatment, and rate of reconsultation.

Results: Of 696 consultations in six months, 602 (86%) required no doctor contact. 549 (79%) patients did not reconsult about the episode of illness, and 343 (50%) patients were given advice on self care only.

Conclusion: Trained nurses could diagnose and treat a large proportion of patients currently consulting general practitioners about minor illness provided that the nurse has immediate access to a doctor.

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