Service expansion of nurse-led dynamic endocrine testing service from 2023-2025: The St James

Georgetta Suciu; Sean Maher; Marie-Louise Healy; Agnieszka Pazderska; Niamh Phelan; Conor Woods; Isolda Frizelle; Lisa Owens

doi:10.1530/endoabs.115.EP27

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Endocrine Abstracts (2026) 115 EP27 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.115.EP27

IES2025 Research, Audit and Quality Improvement Projects E-Posters (60 abstracts)

Service expansion of nurse-led dynamic endocrine testing service from 2023-2025: The St James’s Experience

Georgetta Suciu ¹ , Sean Maher ¹ , Marie-Louise Healy ^1,2 , Agnieszka Pazderska ^1,2 , Niamh Phelan ^1,2 , Conor Woods ^1,2 , Isolda Frizelle ^1,2 & Lisa Owens ^1,2

Author affiliations

¹Endocrinology Department, St James’s Hospital; ²School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin

Nurse-led clinics are playing an increasingly important role in modern healthcare systems, especially as demand for clinical services continues to rise. In 2023, a new Clinical Nurse Specialist position was created in response to rising patient numbers and growing demand for dynamic testing. This role has enabled the service to expand its capacity and offer a wider range of specialised dynamic endocrine tests. A retrospective audit was conducted of all dynamic endocrine tests performed in SJH between June 2023 and June 2025, recording test type, indication, frequency, and outcomes. The expanded service now offers Short Synacthen Test (SST), Saline Suppression Testing, Adrenal Venous Sampling (AVS), Oral Glucose Tolerance Testing (OGTT), OGTT with growth hormone, Insulin Tolerance Testing, Plasma Metanephrines, Genetic Testing, Cannulated Prolactin, and Mixed Meal Testing. The total number of tests performed increased from 39 in 2023 to 163 in 2024, with 107 performed in the first half of 2025. SST was most frequently performed (72/163 in 2024; 31/107 in 2025), followed by plasma metanephrines (39/163; 37/107) and genetic testing (33/163; 21/107). In 2025, 4 AVS took place so far this year, compared to 2 the year prior. There was an increase in all other testing also from 2023 to 2025. Median waiting time from referral to testing was two weeks. The expansion of a nurse-led dynamic testing service at SJH has significantly improved efficiency, shortened waiting times, and broadened access to specialized endocrine investigations, ensuring high-quality care in line with best practice protocols.