Publish date: 21 May 2021

From May 2021 north central London (NCL) has implemented a new model for elective orthopaedic care. This follows a review of adult elective orthopaedic services and is the culmination of three years collaboration with NHS providers to improve services for patients.

The network brings together two partnerships for orthopaedic surgery alongside the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, to form a single network.

  • UCLH and Whittington Health will work together to provide day surgery at both sites; with an enhanced day-case service at Whittington Health. Inpatient surgery will take place at University College Hospital Grafton Way Building with dedicated theatres including robotic surgery facilities and support to cater for complex surgery; this will be staffed by teams from University College London Hospitals and Whittington Health.
  • North Middlesex University Hospital will work with the Royal Free London, with inpatient surgery at Chase Farm staffed by teams from the Royal Free London and North Middlesex University Hospital, and day surgery at both sites.
  • Outpatient and radiology appointments will continue, pre and post operatively on all sites as well as.
  • The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital will continue provide super specialist surgery.
  • Patients will have a choice between the two partnerships.

 The changes will impact patients currently on waiting lists, and those newly referred into North Middlesex University Hospital, The Royal Free London, University College London Hospitals, Whittington Health and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Some patients may have their surgery in a different hospital to the one they are initially referred to (particularly for those requiring inpatient surgery), although the same surgical team will carry out the operation no matter where it takes place.

Emergency orthopaedic care services will remain unchanged.  

Visit https://www.northlondonpartners.org.uk/ncl-elective-orthopaedic-network for more information. If you have any questions, then please do not hesitate to contact us at nclccg.nclorthopaedics@nhs.net