Colchester Hospital's virtual fracture clinic hailed a success
Despite not being designed for the pandemic, it continues to reduce footfall in the hospital
A virtual fracture clinic at Colchester Hospital has been hailed a success.
It was launched in August 2018 to reduce wait times and prevent people unnecessarily visiting the hospital.
While it wasn't designed for the pandemic it has worked well to reduce the amount of footfall on site, with around 670 referrals being managed virtually each month.
According to East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), which manages the site, more than 200 patients who no longer need further treatment are also discharged via the virtual clinic.
This has lead to more clinic slots being freed up for those who do need additional treatment, such as surgery, a plaster cast or onward referrals to their GP or a physiotherapist.
Consoltant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Mahbub Alam, who set up the clinic alongside colleagues, said:
"The virtual fracture clinic is a brilliant example of successful team working which is making a real difference to our patients.
"Previously, patients going to ED with a fracture would automatically be invited back to the orthopaedic clinic several days later. This was very inconvenient for patients who need no further treatment, as it meant they would have to make an unnecessary trip to hospital just to be discharged.
"In addition, the virtual clinic means that every patient’s notes and x-rays are reviewed by a consultant within 24 hours of their injury. We feel this provides a gold standard of service and additional safety, as every x-ray is double checked by a senior member of staff to ensure nothing has been missed.
"As well as improving the experience our patients have when receiving care, the clinic is also helping us use our appointment slots most effectively while making sure that everyone receives the most appropriate treatment, from the right professional, first time. It also means patients in Clacton and Harwich receive the same level of care as patients seen at Colchester.
"We have had some fantastic feedback from our patients about the initiative, which was also highlighted as best practice by the CQC during their last inspection."