The impact of pump-priming funding on genitourinary medicine and modernization of services.

Genitourinary (GU) medicine services are under increasing pressure due to increased workload. The Department of Health responded to this crisis by allocating pump-priming funding of ?5 million direct to GU medicine clinics in 2002-03. A survey was performed of all clinics in England to determine if funding was received, its utilization and the extent of modernization of services. Response rate was 71% (147 of 206 clinics), with 95% (140) receiving their allocation. Additional clinics were instated by 54% (74/137) and of these 51% (35/69) had thus reduced their waiting times. Extensive modernization of services was under way, with 89% (130/146) reducing proportion of follow-up attendances, 87% (127/146) extending the nurse role and the majority of clinics looking at developing or extending their clinical networks. This study has shown the direct benefit of increased funding allocated to GU medicine and the extent of modernization under way.