Orthopaedics
All orthopaedic patients should be referred via the Musculoskeletal Triage Service (MSK) who will review the patients condition and will direct the patient to either self-mange with support from their GP, refer on for conservative treatment (i.e. physiotherapy) or refer onto secondary care for further investigation and possible surgery. For more information on the MSK Triage Service please visit the MSK Triage Service tab on this website.
- For information on the virtual fracture clinic please refer to the Virtual fracture clinic tab above.
- Our Dorset Medical Decision Aids are provided for patients considering selected types of surgery, either now or at some time in the future. These interactive programs will show patients what the operation involves and discuss the typical benefits, and possible associated problems.
This link will help them decide whether surgery may, or may not be the right option in their individual case. Patients will be asked to complete some simple questions to help assess their condition
Our fracture clinics have been redesigned to offer patients a safe and effective process in assessing their injury.
Until recently, all fractures/breaks were seen in our Fracture Clinic a few days after the injury. Patients with straightforward and predictable breaks waited in our busy fracture clinic, often taking time off work/school, without any subsequent change in their treatment. However, occasionally the injury is more significant and requires further examination and possible surgery. It is therefore useful for all patients’ x-rays and notes to be reviewed by a Consultant.
Coming to a traditional fracture clinic in the first few days is unnecessary in many cases and often difficult due to pain and immobility. It can be apparent at the time of the first fracture clinic appointment that an early opinion of a specialist is required. This can now be provided by our Virtual Fracture Clinic.
Now to ensure patients are accurately diagnosed and treated in the appropriate clinic, patients are first referred to our Virtual Fracture Clinic. Each referral is reviewed by one of our consultants to determine the appropriate management and clinic for the patient to attend. This ensures that patients are not delayed in clinic and do not have to be re-referred to other departments or consultants, which can hold up their treatment and hinder recovery.
After being referred to the Virtual Fracture Clinic, your patients case will be reviewed remotely by the Orthopaedic team within 24-72 hours of their attendance at the Emergency Department.
Patients will not need to attend hospital for the virtual assessment to take place.
Following the assessment, a trained, experienced physiotherapist will contact the patient by telephone to discuss their individual management plan. Following the phone call, they may be discharged by phone or if they require further specialist help they will be referred to the most appropriate clinic to meet their needs.
All patients and their GP’s will receive a letter outlining the assessment and the outcome.
How to refer your patients
There are two virtual fracture clinics in the county which reside at Dorset County Hospital and Poole Hospital.
To refer patients to the Dorset County Hospital virtual fracture clinic, please do so by going through the referral assessment service (RAS).
To refer patients to the Poole Hospital virtual fracture clinic, the form below should be filled in electronically in full (all boxes are considered mandatory and are expandable) and emailed to virtualfracture.clinics@poole.nhs.uk – who will book your patient a virtual appointment.
Please ONLY use this form if the patient has not been seen in Poole or Bournemouth ED departments in the last 24 hours – in those cases where they have been seen in PGH/RBH ED the symphony referral system should be used.
Click here to download the referral form
What happens next?
Patient aftercare is dependent on the nature of the injury. Some patients will be suitable to be managed in the community setting with support from their GP or local services. Some will require hospital visits and some will be discharged after a telephone consultation with the virtual fracture clinic team and provision of basic self-management advice.
For further information on the virtual fracture clinic, please visit Poole hospital’s website here