The orthopaedic service is separated into five clinics:

  1. General orthopaedic clinics
  2. Fracture clinics
  3. Orthopaedic Access Service (OAS)
  4. OA Hip & Knee clinics
  5. Paediatric Hip Dysplasia (Clicky Hip) & Club Foot clinic

Patients will be triaged to the most appropriate clinic on receipt of a referral. This may not be directly to a consultant clinic.

Scope

The Specialty Clinics provide the following services:

Fracture Clinic:

  • Primarily for follow-up of patients seen in the Emergency Department over the previous week
  • Is it not available for routine appointments
  • Patients having had their fracture managed by a GP and wish to access outpatients for a waterproof plaster cast may need to wait

OAS Clinic:

  • Assessment of knee injuries, foot and ankle problems, back disorders and shoulder injuries
  • Patients may be triaged to this clinic to be seen by an Orthopaedic Physiotherapist, a Podiatrist or a GP with a special interest in orthopaedics

OA Hip & Knee Clinic:

  • Aim of this clinic is assessment and early intervention with non-surgical management
  • This service is co-ordinated and managed by an Orthopaedic Physiotherapist who facilitates access to Consultants as appropriate
    Paediatric Hip Dysplasia (Clicky Hip) & Club Foot Clinic:

Assessment and management of both conditions

  • The Hip Dysplasia assessment includes an ultrasound for children under six months and an x-ray for children over six months.

Hip Clinic:

If your child has been referred to the Hip Clinic, please see the document on the right which details the steps of what to expect.

Referral Process

  • Complete orthopaedic referral template (see link right) for all orthopaedic conditions excluding Paed Hip Dysplasia or Club Foot
  • Complete hip dysplasia (clicky hips) club foot referral template (see link below to download) for either of these conditions
  • Ensure symptoms (especially pain), incapacity to work or maintain ADLs and conservative management are included in the referral
  • Please identify WorkCover and Transport Accident claims
  • All referrals must be faxed to Outpatients
  • All referrals are triaged for urgency by the orthopaedic nurse or physiotherapist
  • Both GP & patient will be notified of receipt of referral and expected waiting time for appointment
  • Please ensure patients who have radiological investigations performed outside Barwon Health bring their films to clinic.

Reassessment Process

For patients who require reassessment regarding planned surgery or planned appointments, a new referral should be faxed through. In order to facilitate access the new referral must contain the following information:

  • State the referral is an update for a current patient
  • Date of original referral
  • Reason for requesting a review of referral. E.g. deterioration in clinical condition, pathology

The GP will be notified of the outcome of the re-triage process.

Page last updated: July 25, 2024