Patients at Stepping Hill Hospital are getting more specialist and faster care for broken bones thanks to an innovative new service.

The ‘virtual fracture clinic’ means that appropriate patients can receive the help and advice they need without unnecessary follow-up appointments at the hospital, while those with more complex fractures can see a specialist doctor sooner.

Traditionally patients suffering suspected fractures attend A&E for an x-ray and initial treatment and then, assuming there is a break, all of them return to the fracture clinic for assessment by a doctor, who will decide if they need specialist treatment or can be discharged. 

Stepping Hill treats around 140 new patients every week for broken bones. There is a lot of demand on the fracture clinic service and patients can often face lengthy waits before they are seen by a doctor, who may only need to give advice on how the patient can care for the fracture themselves at home.

In the new seven day service, all patient x-rays and notes from A&E attendances are examined and reviewed virtually by an orthopaedic consultant within 24 hours. Where appropriate, patients are then contacted by telephone and provided with further written advice and guidance on how to manage their fracture, without the need for an appointment.

There has been a 25% reduction in unnecessary fracture clinic appointments since the new service started three months ago; reducing waiting times, as well as less crowding in the clinic and reduced costs. Patients getting a ‘virtual’ follow-up appointment, as well as those seeing an orthopaedic consultant for their follow-up, now receive their first follow-up treatment plan within approximately 2-4 days instead of 4-7 days. 

Paul Wake is a father whose young son was seen by the virtual clinic. “I was really impressed with the care my son received from Stepping Hill emergency department; a broken wrist which was fixed up in under two hours by a fantastic team. The virtual fracture clinic wasn`t something I`d heard of but it was explained to me while we were at the emergency department and we were called with follow-up information within 48 hours. The service certainly seems to make sense, and I can see the benefits to both patients and the NHS and reducing stress for patients like my son.” 

Orthopaedic consultant Steve Royle said, “Technology means that senior doctors now have the information they need about a patient’s injury and their X-rays at their fingertips without a patient needing to attend hospital for this assessment.”

“For more serious fractures, face-to-face consultations are still the best option, but in other cases the virtual solution is better for both the patient and the clinic. It is a safe, proven way to help patients with certain injuries and avoids unnecessary appointments, provides faster care and information to the patient, and cuts waiting times for those that do need appointments.”

“A lot of patients think its brilliant and are happy not to have to travel to hospital. But if a patient has any concerns we will always offer them a face to face appointment if they wish.”