A review of telephone clinic letters for patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage and arteriovenous malformations

Abstract

Background: This review investigated the role of neurovascular clinical nurse specialists in telephone clinics following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and arteriovenous malformations (AVM). Aims: To review telephone clinic letters to assess frequency of support provided. Methods: Clinic letters for all neurovascular clinical nurse specialist telephone clinics from July 2016–June 2018 were reviewed using a locally developed standardised template. Findings: Some 133 telephone clinic letters were included. The most common theme was clinical advice for SAH complications: fatigue (n=63) and headache (n=60). Psychological support was the second most common theme: emotional issues (n=41) and short–term memory concerns (n=41). Information was most frequently provided on lifestyle (n=61). Conclusions: The role of the neurovascular clinical nurse specialist following SAH and AVM involves clinical advice on complications. Psychological support after SAH and AVM is required for almost two–thirds of patients, which is significantly higher than previous studies. While a single site audit, this study indicates the important role in supporting psychological care that clinical nurse specialists have in a neurovascular service.