A new trauma and orthopaedic clinic has opened on the ground floor of Daisy Hill Hospital.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt called in to meet staff and see the new unit during his visit to the hospital last week.
Located behind the coffee bar, in the former physiotherapy department, the service will be open five days a week offering fracture and orthopaedic outpatient clinics for people with bone and joint problems.
Before the pandemic, fracture and orthopaedics clinics operated from both Craigavon and Daisy Hill hospitals. As the Daisy Hill clinic used a shared space, in 2020 it moved to Craigavon, to support with COVID-19 guidance and social distancing.
Thanks to £175,000 funding from the Department of Health and creativity from estates colleagues, the trauma and orthopaedics team are delighted to be back working across both hospitals.
Brigeen Kelly, Head of Trauma and Orthopaedics for the Southern Trust, explains: “Like many other services, demand for trauma and orthopaedics is increasing. We have around 680 attendances each week for the fracture clinic and orthopaedic outpatients. We have a hugely dedicated and highly experienced trauma and orthopaedics team, always striving to provide the best quality care and improve services for their patients.
“Working from one site, with limited access to x-ray, space and facilities, restricts the amount of patients we can see at any one session, so we are absolutely delighted to move back into a modern new clinic at Daisy Hill to help us rebuild our service and address waiting times.
“We are also delighted to increase the number and range of orthopaedic clinics at Daisy Hill to improve access for local people. Having a senior trauma and orthopaedic doctor at both sites Monday to Friday, means that ED and ward teams can avail of this specialist advice much more quickly and aims to avoid the need to transfer patients across hospitals where we can.”
Minister Mike Nesbitt with Veronica Roberts, Clinical Director for Trauma and Orthopaedics and Sister Laura Murphy, Trauma and Orthopaedics Clinic Manager.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “The return of the fractures service to Daisy Hill Hospital, along with additional orthopaedic outpatients clinics, is welcome news for local patients across the Southern Trust. Having a local fracture service again will be more convenient for patients attending for routine reviews and care. As is the case with many specialties, patients are waiting much too long for orthopaedic appointments. This increased capacity and better access will help to offer more timely care for many, and better outcomes for patients.”
