Impact of The Patient's Charter on A&E departments: 1.

In the first of a two-part series presenting the results of a national survey of senior nurses in accident and emergency (A&E) departments, developments in the delivery of nursing care are examined within the context of the major organizational changes within the NHS since 1990; in particular, the requirements of meeting The Patient's Charter (Department of Health, 1991, 1995a) standards are discussed. The second article in this series will examine the developing role of the nurse practitioner in A&E departments.