This article discusses the development of a nurse-led, telephone assessment service (TAS) in a UK cancer centre. The overall aim of the service was to reduce waiting times for patients with advanced malignant melanoma receiving infusions of the monoclonal antibody ipilimumab. The service was piloted over a period of one year and 56 assessments were conducted with 18 patients using a drug-specific proforma. There were eight omitted doses and no incidences of inaccurate assessment. Waiting times for treatment fell from an average of four hours to around 17 minutes, a reduction of 93%.

The results of the pilot indicate that nurse-led TAS was a safe method of establishing selected patients’ fitness for treatment. It also meant that on the day of treatment the face-to-face consultation with the ANP could focus on a more holistic, patient-centred discussion of concerns or questions.