​The Trauma and Orthopaedic department
The Trauma and Orthopaedic (T and O) department provides treatment for conditions that affect your musculoskeletal system including:
- bones
- muscles
- joints
- connective tissues
We treat:
- injuries caused by external forces, such as fractures, dislocations, and ligament tears, often resulting from accidents or physical impact
- disorders resulting from abnormal growth or development of the musculoskeletal system such as congenital hip dysplasia and scoliosis
- conditions resulting from the gradual deterioration of the musculoskeletal system over time, often due to aging or wear and tear such as osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease
- some tumors that affect bones and soft tissues
It is a free service.
Our team
​We care for inpatients and outpatients and our multi-disciplinary team includes:
- Consultant and Middle Grade surgeons
- foundation doctors
- nurses including an Arthroplasty Specialist nurse
- Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs)
- plaster technicians
- physiotherapists
- occupational therapists
- administrative staff
We also work closely with Radiology, and Clinical Investigations.
What we do
We work in outpatient clinics and take care of all T and O inpatients. We perform surgeries on trauma patients with broken bones and carry out planned surgeries such as joint replacements.
We also:
- make diagnoses
- discuss management plans
- order necessary investigations
- schedule surgeries
- refer you for therapy such as physiotherapy, podiatry, and occupational therapy
- give peripheral joint injections including corticosteroid injections
- direct you to other services when needed
How to access our service
You can’t make an appointment for yourself, you must have a referral.
We accept referrals from:
- GPs
- healthcare professionals
- the Emergency Department (ED)
If you attend the ED for an injury and need further treatment, ED staff will assess your condition and schedule an appointment for you at one of our clinics if necessary.
Useful information for referrers
The latest guidelines and resources are available at NICE Guideline NG226 Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management and NICE Management of osteoarthritis.
Support and information for patients dealing with arthritis is available at Versus Arthritis.
Information on joint replacement surgery patient outcomes is available at ​the National Joint Registry.
Our location
The T and O unit is located in the Outpatient department in the Gwyneth Huelin Wing of the General Hospital. We will tell you where to go in your appointment letter.
Hospital transport and parking
There is allocated hospital parking on the ground floor of Patriotic Street car park. You will need to pay to park there.
Health and Care Jersey (HCJ) provide a non-emergency transport service if you are medically unfit to travel by any other means and have no other way of travelling to or from hospital. More information is available at Getting to the hospitals: transport and parking
Our clinics
We run multiple clinics including:
- Orthopaedic clinics
- Fracture clinics
- Soft Tissue clinics
Orthopaedic clinic
This clinic deals with a wide range of musculoskeletal issues including:
- osteoarthritis
- joint problems
- other conditions affecting bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes joints to become painful and stiff. It is the most common type of arthritis in the UK.
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are:
- joint pain and stiffness
- problems moving the joint
- a grating or crackling sound when moving the affected joints
The symptoms can be mild and may come and go, or you may experience more continuous and severe problems which make it difficult to carry out everyday activities.
Almost any joint can be affected by osteoarthritis, but the condition most often causes problems in the:
- knees
- hips
- small joints of the hands
If you experience persistent symptoms of osteoarthritis visit your GP, they can confirm the diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
You may not need a referral to the T and O department for treatment for osteoarthritis. It can often be treated with:
- therapeutic exercise
- weight management
- information and support
You do not need to have an X-ray to diagnose osteoarthritis, but you may need to have one if your GP refers you to the Hospital or if you need surgery.
Your GP will talk to you about your treatment options and, if necessary, refer you for Physiotherapy, or to T and O department if you would like to consider surgery.
​
Fracture clinic
A fracture is a break or crack in a bone. Fractures can happen due to trauma from an accident, a fall, or direct impact and can result from conditions that weaken the bones, like osteoporosis.
The Fracture clinic is a specialised clinic for patients with fractures that need treatment and follow-up care from an Orthopaedic specialist or an ACP.
The clinic runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning, the day your appointment is booked on depends on which Consultant you see.
Soft Tissue clinic
This clinic was previously known as the sports injury’s clinic, it is for patients with acute lower limb injuries to the soft tissue including:
You can be referred into this clinic directly by your GP or via the Emergency Department or Physiotherapy team.
This clinic is not for patients with a:
- fracture
- flare up of a long-term condition
- spinal injury
- simple soft tissue injury such as an ankle sprain
The clinic runs every other Monday afternoon. It is run by an Associate Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon and an ACP.
What to expect at your clinic appointment
We are a busy department, and we understand waiting is difficult. We will try to see you as quickly as possible. We will let you know the estimated time you will be seen. We recommend you plan up to 3 hours for your appointment.
You may notice patients who arrive after you being seen before you this is because we run multiple clinics, and some patients are seen quicker based on clinical priority.
X-rays or other tests can mean your appointment takes longer. If you need a plaster cast to be changed or replaced, our plaster technicians do this in the plaster room next to the clinic.
If you need surgery, you might be admitted to the Hospital right away, or you might need to return on a scheduled date. You may also need to answer some questions or have blood tests and other examinations. We will discuss this with you.
What to bring
You should bring:
- your appointment letter
- details of any of any investigations or treatments not carried out at the Hospital
- a list of regular medications you take
- any medications you need during your time at the clinic, and remember to take them
- a book or something to keep you occupied while you wait
We recommend you wear clothes that allow us to examine your injury such as shorts if you have a broken leg, or short sleeve tops for broken arms.
Interpreting service
If English is not your first language, you can request an interpreter to be present at your appointment. Contact us in advance so we can book this service for you.
You may bring a relative or friend to help you, but family or friends should not be used instead of an interpreter.
Preparing for surgery
Most orthopaedic surgery is carried out for pain relief and to help improve your quality of life.
If you are on our waiting list for surgery you should already have all the necessary information about your surgery including:
- time date and location of your surgery
- what to expect during and after surgery
- how long you should expect to wait for your surgery date
If you are unsure call the Hospital switchboard on +44 (0) 1534 44200 and ask to be put through to your consultant’s secretary. ​
A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or less is ideal for surgery and lowers your surgical risk. A normal BMI is between 18.5 to 25. We understand that a managing a higher BMI can be complicated, and each surgical case is reviewed by a consultant to decide if surgery is possible.
In the time leading up to surgery, aim to be as healthy as possible. Try to remain active and eat correctly. Talk to your GP to manage any health concerns. This will make your pre-assessment and preparation for surgery easier.
Useful information about healthy diet and exercise:
When you have surgery, you will be given anaesthesia. This means you will either be asleep, or the area being operated on will be numb. For more information about anaesthesia read information for patients from the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
Staying in hospital
Trauma and Orthopaedic inpatients usually stay on Beauport ward, in the General Hospital this may change depending on bed availability. Find out more about staying on Beauport Ward.
Day surgery
Day surgery takes place in the Day Surgery Unit or Main Theatres. We will send you a letter stating where to go when you get the date for your surgery. Find out more about what to expect at the Day surgery unit (DSU).
Contact u​s
To contact us about an appointment, call the Outpatients appointments desk on +44 (0) 1534 442464 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
For specific qu​estions or concerns about your treatment, discuss these at your clinic appointment or call the Hospital switchboard on +44 (0) 1534 444200 and ask to be put through to your consultant’s secretary.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS can give you confidential advice, support and information on health-related services or care. Find out more at Patient and visitor advice and support.
To give feedback on health services and care you can:
Send feedback
gov.je