Anne Higgins and Alison Hill discuss how a re-examination of a clinical pathway has improved service provision, education, expertise and support

This article reports the findings of a re-audit across a cancer network of the impact and efficacy of a neutropenic sepsis clinical pathway implemented in 2007. The aims of the audit were to assess patients’ understanding of neutropenic sepsis, their experience of care, staff knowledge of the pathway and the time to administration of antibiotics. The audit was carried out as acute oncology services were being developed. The results showed improvement in patients’ experience, but lack of improvement in time to administration of antibiotics. Further challenges to achieving optimum care are discussed.