This page is for those who have attended UCLH with a bone, joint, or muscle injury, (often called an orthopaedic injury).
When patients do not need to be admitted to hospital after this type of injury, they are usually referred to be seen in a fracture clinic.
Coming back to hospital for this appointment can be difficult for some patients due to:
- pain
- reduced mobility
- commitments such as school, work or childcare.
For others, the appointment is not necessary as they can manage their injury at home with simple advice. Sometimes, patients come to the appointment and then need to be referred to a specialist for a further opinion. Alternatively, they may need another service such as physiotherapy or nursing.
The UCLH Virtual Fracture Clinic service has been introduced to provide safe and effective follow up care to patients who attend our Emergency Department with orthopaedic injuries.
Once you have been assessed and treated in the Emergency Department, the staff will refer you to the virtual fracture clinic so that the appropriate management plan can be made as soon as possible.
You will be asked to provide contact details including a telephone number and an email address (if you have one). Please make sure you can be contacted on the number you provide.
You will not need to physically attend the hospital for the Virtual Fracture Clinic appointment.
In the Virtual Fracture Clinic, your case will be assessed by a specialist consultant-led orthopaedic trauma team within 3 working days of referral. The team includes a senior orthopaedic surgeon, an experienced orthopaedic physiotherapist and someone from the fracture clinic appointment booking team.
Firstly, your referral and any imaging (x-ray/scan) performed when you attended the Emergency Department will be reviewed by the orthopaedic surgeon and physiotherapist.
Once the management plan has been made, you will be contacted via telephone within 1 working day (Monday–Friday) by one of the virtual fracture clinic team. They will advise you on what will happen next.
If you are under 16 years old, we will need to speak to your parent/guardian as well as you.
The Virtual Fracture Clinic team will also:
- arrange the appointment, if you need to attend hospital for further follow up care or require specialist review
- organise any further x-rays or scans required so that the orthopaedic surgeon has the necessary information when you are next seen
- make referrals for physiotherapy or nursing follow up if needed.
PLEASE NOTE: It may be necessary for the fracture clinic team to leave a voicemail message on your phone.
If you do not wish for messages to be left on your phone, please inform the Emergency Department before you leave the hospital.
Hospital Switchboard: 020 3456 7890
Direct line: 020 3447 5042 (fracture clinic)
Fax Number: 020 3447 9958
Email: uclh.fractureclinic@nhs.net
Virtual Fracture Clinic Trauma & Orthopaedics Department Surgical Specialties Division
Ground Floor Central
250 Euston Road
London, NW1 2PG
Services
Page last updated: 29 May 2024
Review due: 01 February 2025