Nurse-led Telephone Triage in Primary Care An Evaluation in South Cheshire

Abstract

Nurse telephone triage has been present in various health care settings, particularly accident and emergency (A&E) departments, for a number of years. Research has suggested that when planned and implemented carefully, employing experienced and trained nursing staff, nurse telephone triage in either A&E or its more recent primary care context may assist in reducing or reorganising workloads. Given the increased pressure upon primary care staff, the result of increased patient demand and a policy driven shift in health care, nurse telephone triage in this setting may be a welcome addition.