An audit of a specialist nurse-led rapid-access chest pain clinic

Objective: Rapid-access chest pain clinics, typically run by doctors, allow the rapid assessment of suspected new-onset angina. Five years ago specialist nurse-led rapid-access chest pain clinics were established at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. The objective of this audit was to assess safety and effectiveness of these clinics. Method: Retrospective data were collected from all patients from January 2002 to December 2006. Results: GPs referred 1464 patients. Of those, 1349 (92.14%) patients were seen within the 14-day government target. The clinic had 1417 (96.8%) patients who under went exercise testing and 234 (16%) of these were positive. Of those patients 143 (61.8%) under went cardiac catheterization. Coronary artery disease was found in 110 patients. Eighty one patients under went revascularization and 29 patients were treated medically. Conclusions: This audit demonstrates that specialist nurse–led rapid -access chest pain clinics are safe and effective. They identify patients who are more likely to have coronary artery disease, therefore allowing early medical/surgical intervention and reducing patient morbidity and mortality. The burden on doctors is reduced and government targets are met.