Pre-admission clinics are becoming increasingly popular for surgical specialties with a quick turnover as they aid waiting list management and reduce non-attender rates for surgery. As paediatric patients have a high rate of non-attendance, we performed a retrospective audit of otolaryngology paediatric pre-admission assessment clinic notes for June to October 1998 (n = 363). The attendance rate for the clinic was 97 per cent. Of the children who attended the clinic, 90 per cent had their operation as planned, complications occurred in 2.9 per cent. The operation date was delayed in 20 patients, in 11 patients no cause for the delay was given in the case notes. As a result of this audit, the Senior House Officer sees the patient on the day of admission rather than in the pre-admission clinic, which is staffed by nurses.