When you see your GP, it is important to give details of your availability and to let them know if you require an interpreter at your appointment. Also, it is important that your contact details are up to date.

Types of referral explained

Virtual fracture clinic

You may have been referred to us after attending A&E. If you have been injured and need to see someone in the orthopaedic team, A&E staff will advise you that you’ll get a phone call from us with the next 72 hours. We call this the Virtual Fracture Clinic.

Vetted referral

A vetted referral is made by a clinical member of the team.  They will then decide which is the most appropriate clinic for you to attend depending on your condition. This could be anyone of our multidisciplinary team including consultants, nurses, physiotherapists, plaster technicians or a podiatrist. Your appointment with the appropriate team member may then be either face-to-face or by telephone or video call. This information will be detailed in your appointment letter.

Occasionally an appointment isn’t needed. This could be because our service needs more information first from the referrer or that you don’t require any orthopaedic treatment. In these cases we will write back to your referrer.

ACRT Referral

ACRT stands for active clinical referral triage referrals

ACRT is when you are referred to us by your GP and then send information about the condition for example, Carpal tunnel syndrome. This leaflet should cover self care, exercises and management information. It may be that this is enough for you to manage your condition. If however, you still feel that you need an appointment, the leaflet will provide information on how to be added to the waiting list for an appointment.

These are offered for the following conditions:

  • Base of Thumb arthritis
  • Carpal Tunnel
  • Cubital tunnel syndrome
  • Dupytren’s Disease
  • Big Toe (bunion and arthritis)
  • Greater Trochanter Pain of the Hip
  • Knee meniscal cartilage injuries
  • Osteoarthritis of the hip
  • Osteoarthritis of the knee
  • Tennis elbow
  • Trigger finger
  • Ganglion cyst of the hand/wrist