Kam Singh and Clare Warnock discuss the results of a study to identify whether patients received safe and appropriate support and to explore areas for practice improvements

National guidance recommends that cancer patients should have access to a telephone enquiry service supported by trained oncology staff. Previous studies indicate that nursing care delivered by telephone has the potential to make a substantial contribution to patient care. However, its role in oncology has not been widely evaluated or explored. This article evaluates a nurse-led telephone advice and triage service for patients and relatives at a regional cancer centre. It provides insight into the range and scope of the service, suggesting that further evaluation is needed to explore the role and use of telephone assessment tools in clinical practice. The findings indicate potential challenges that can be faced when providing this service.