Triage clinics: a way forward in genitourinary medicine

Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led triage clini c in genitourinary medicine (GUM). A prospective study was made of 200 cons ecutive patients attending the triage clinic in the GUM Department, Portsmo uth. These patients were seen by the triage nurse and treated according to clinic guidelines. The consultants reviewed the case notes to assess the ap propriateness of management. During the 6-week study period, 3009 patients were seen in the department. Of the 200 patients seen in the triage clinic, 38 were referred to a doctor during the initial visit. One or more sexuall y transmitted or associated infections were found in 61 female and 58 male patients. Six female and 4 male patients were not treated according to the clinic guidelines. Given appropriate education and training and working wit hin a supportive framework the nurse undertaking a triage role in GUM can p rovide a highly effective and high-quality service to patients.