Nutrition nurse-led outpatient 'hot' clinics are efficient and cost-effective: a retrospective single-centre evaluation

Abstract

Background: Nutrition nurses work in multidisciplinary and nurse-led outpatient clinics. The daily nutrition nurse-led 'hot' clinic in this study sees patients for enteral or home parenteral nutritional support. Appointments may be for routine procedures or emergency reviews.

Aims: This study aimed to identify activities and procedures performed in the nutrition nurse-led clinic, identifying admission avoidance activity.

Methods: Nurse-held records for the period from April 2018 to March 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Data were collated in an Excel spreadsheet for analysis and results are presented using descriptive statistics.

Results: Records covered a total of 590 patients, 294 men and 296 women with a median age of 59 years, and 606 procedures. Key activities were troubleshooting enteral feeding tubes (29%), insertion of fine-bore nasogastric feeding tubes (18%) and management of home parenteral nutrition issues (11%). The presenting problem or issue was resolved in 90% of patients, with no need for hospital admission or additional medical review.

Conclusion: The nutrition nurse-led clinic provides an efficient and cost-effective service, preventing hospital admission and emergency department attendance in most cases.

Keywords: Clinical nurse specialist; Head and neck cancer; Nasogastric; Parenteral; Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; Radiologically inserted gastrostomy; Triage.