I am a clinical teacher in Primary care and a Perioperative practitioner and I am in the process of developing a study day for practice nurses (and HCAs) who are involved in minor surgery clinics and I am interested to find out about the range of procedures undertaken, to what extent practice nurses 'assist' in minor surgery and what training opportunities have been made available . In all the literature that i have accessed so far it states that nurses may assist the GP in minor surgery but is somewhat vague about what that may entail and whether it is considered a role extension. In perioperative practice, assisting the surgeon by retracting, cutting sutures, using diathermy etc is considered a role extension for nurses/ ODP and there are very clear published guidelines available from the Association for perioperative practice (AfPP). So my main question is what do practice nurses do in minor surgery lists? From my investigations so far I think that they may undertake the following.... maintain stock set up the list- eqpt. sterile supplies, dressings, pharmaceuticals etc act in circulating role- provide the operator with sterile supplies provide care /support to patients and monitor their comfort and well being during surgery and post-op receive/ label specimens assist in record-keeping maintain a clean working environment/infection control dispose of used materials and clear away after list. Also I am interested to find out to what extent HCAs are utilised in minor surgery lists any help personal experiences and opinions gratefully received Julie