LAUSR

BACKGROUND Pleural disease incidence is increasing and there has been a move towards outpatient management. Pleural clinics have been developed for patients to be assessed and have pleural procedures for diagnostic and symptomatic purposes. AIM The study aimed to assess the impact of nurse practitioner (NP) involvement in a pleural procedures clinic on clinic capacity, and staff and patient experience. METHODS A mixed-methods service evaluation was completed in a medium-sized general hospital. The number of patients seen in clinic over a 6-month period at the beginning of NP involvement was compared with the number of patients seen 1 year later. Semi-structured interviews of key staff stakeholders were conducted. FINDINGS Clinic capacity increased from 4.57 to 5.86 patients per list. NP involvement increased access, improved patient care, reduced work burden for other staff and improved educational opportunities. CONCLUSION The impact of NP involvement in the pleural clinic was seen as positive and increased clinic capacity. The same model of practice could be considered elsewhere.