Tom, I think, as usual there's more that unites us than divides us, however to answer some of the points... It's called a clinical handover for a reason, we've handed over the patient, they're not our patient any more. I take the point about ensuring their safety but I guess I'd ask, where do you draw the line, after all we don't do an administrative handover for warded patients, or those who are left in care of the police (and I think the risk of further damage is far greater there). Finally to answer the 30 minute question, I guess the truth is that those staff who are having their coffee and reading their red top whilst waiting for the time to tick over won't change their ways, but for people like me (who for obvious reasons need to keep their hospital time to a minimum) this will propbably save 5-10 minutes, believe it or not your local isn't the worst wait to book a paitent in! All the best