This article considers the issues raised by the NICE guidelines "Improving outcomes in head and neck cancers" (2004) with particular emphasis on the guidelines regarding the creation of "one-stop" neck lump assessment clinics. Tissue sampling is an essential function of the clinics and the relative merits of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and ultrasound-guided core biopsy (US-CB) in the context of a one-stop model are discussed. All cancer service providers in the UK have a duty to implement the NICE guidelines, with the intention of improving cancer services to our patients. The measures against which head and neck cancer teams are to be accredited through the process of peer review will specify such a clinic to be in place. Teams should implement the guidance in such a way that there is a genuine benefit to patients. In many centres this may require clinicians to learn new skills and adopt different ways of working.