First two years of a follow-up breast clinic led by a nurse practitioner

After special training a nurse practitioner ran an independent clinic for follow-up patients with breast disease. All patients referred to a single surgical firm with breast cancer and most patients with benign disease who required follow-up were included. In the first 2 years of the service 382 clinic visits were recorded (median 5/clinic, range 1-12). The nurse practitioner reviewed 236 (62%) patients alone but involved the consultant surgeon in the remainder. No significant lesion was missed in these patients. The nurse-led clinic is popular with patients and, subject to careful supervision, offers an attractive option for follow-up of patients with breast disease.