Telephone triage in ophthalmic A&E department

Research in Nursing Series Formalised telephone triage is a fairlynew concept in Accident and Emergency services although it has beenan informal method of advising patients and health careprofessionals for many years.

In the A&E service of ManchesterRoyal Eye Hospital, formalisation of this method of patientprioritisation led to a need for an evaluation of this strategy. Both clinicians and patients need to know that the decision makingwhich is undertaken in using telephone triage is undertaken byexpert nurses and that the decisions made are accurate and safe.

This study explores the various conditions that present to theA&E department and examines the accuracy of the diagnosis madeby the triage nurse.

It also examines the decision making processadopted by the nurse when giving advice in a telephone triagesituation.

The book is essential reading for both A&E andophthalmic nurses, particularly those involved in setting up atelephone triage service.