The benefits of setting up a nurse hysteroscopy service.

Many nurses are extending their roles in line with the Government's NHS Plan. In the outpatient hysteroscopy service in one trust nurses are now undertaking diagnostic hysteroscopy. This has improved continuity of care for patients and allowed the nurses to combine their traditional nursing role of providing information and reassurance with performing the procedure.

Extended training equips nurses to undertake diagnostic hysteroscopy.

In 2001, consultant gynaecologists at Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust extended the services in the outpatient hysteroscopy department from being purely diagnostic to offering simple operative procedures. As a result, it was decided that two existing nurse facilitators would undertake the diagnostic work. To equip them with the necessary skills and competence, an advanced practice hysteroscopy module was developed in collaboration between the hospital and the University of Bradford.