Telephone Assessment Clinics (Bowel)

The colorectal telephone assessment clinic is a service for patients who have suspected cancer in their bowels.

Rather than waiting up to two weeks for a face-to-face appointment in the clinic, patients may be offered a telephone assessment with a specialist nurse who can take a full history and recommend and book any tests that may be necessary.

The telephone appointments usually take place between one and three days after the referral is received, allowing patients to access tests and treatment much quicker than waiting for a clinic appointment.

Schemes such as this have been shown to have a range of benefits for patients, including:

• Faster access to information about tests that may be necessary
• Reduced anxiety from a possible cancer diagnosis because test results are available sooner
• Fewer hospital visits
• Higher satisfaction for patients

For more information on this service please click here for patient information leaflet