Outpatient treatment of haemorrhoids by elastic band ligation without anaesthetic was performed in 75 patients. Clinical review showed that 65 returned to work within 24 h of ligation, 8 in 48 h and 2 after 48 h. No patient required hospitalisation for either rectal bleeding or pain after ligation. In the first week after treatment 36 were completely symptom-free, 26 had minimal discomfort and 13 had moderate pain with a sense of incomplete evacuation in the rectum, and some frequency of call to stool lasting up to 7 days in 1. Follow-up at 8–26 months (mean 10 months) showed that 59 were symptom-free, only occasional rectal bleeding occurred in 7 and more frequent irregular bleeding in 2. Religation of residual haemorrhoids was performed in 7 and 2 had a haemorrhoidectomy. For the majority of patients hospitalisation and loss of work were avoided.