The Northern Care Alliance (NCA) Trauma and Orthopaedics Service became a single shared service with a complex multi-site delivery model, with elective Orthopaedic activity provided at Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital, Bury and Salford Royal. Trauma orthopaedics are provided at Royal Oldham and the Major Trauma unit at Salford Royal.
The elective orthopaedic service (planned surgery) is managed by Bury Care Organisation and performs outpatient activity at Fairfield General in Bury, Royal Oldham, Rochdale Infirmary and North Manchester General Hospital, with operations mainly taking place at Fairfield General in Bury and Rochdale Infirmary. The service consists of 20+ surgeons with accompanying junior medical staff, including registrars and speciality doctors, and one advanced practitioner who specialises in carpal tunnel procedures.
The service operates mainly day cases at Rochdale Infirmary, whereas Fairfield has a mixture of inpatient and day case procedures in the dedicated ring-fenced 26 bedded unit, (Ward 14) for joint procedures such as hip or knee replacements. Some patients will be allocated to Ward 12 and also the day case unit on Ward 3. Each ward has its own ward sister and has a compliment of multi-disciplinary teams, including allied health professionals (AHPs) such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists, pharmacists, doctors and nursing staff, ward clerks and housekeepers who all contribute to your care and the smooth running of the ward.
- Knee – soft tissue and replacements
- Foot and Ankle
- Arthroplasty (hip and knee including revisions)
- Hands and Wrist
- Upper limb
- Sarcoma – diagnostic only
Location will be dependent on where your appointment has been booked and this will be detailed in the letter you receive. Directions (include the nearest entrance and car park) can be found on our getting here webpages. Please arrive as instructed on your letter and bring your letter with you.
If you are attending outpatients you may be required to have an x-ray on the day. Any issues can be discussed with the reception staff and the surgical teams on the day. You will meet with a member of the surgical team to discuss your issues and a management plan will then be created for you.
If you are attending for planned surgery, when you have been given the date to come in for your procedure please ensure you have followed all pre-operative advice (if you are having a local anaesthetic – you are not seen be the pre-operative service) including fasting and stopping appropriate medication. Once admitted to the ward, you will be reviewed by one or more health professionals.
Although you may be told you are first on the list, the operating lists are tightly managed, and sometimes changes have to made on the day, you may be required to wait some time to go down to theatre as we operate up to 5pm, so please be patient. Please remeber to bring along a book, magazines or something to keep you occupied while you wait to be taken for surgery.
Most patients are discharged on the day, but if this is not the case for you, you will be given an estimated date of discharge when you are admitted. This will be reviewed by staff on a daily basis and discussed with you. If you have any concerns regarding your discharge, please speak to a member of staff. It is also important to discuss your discharge from hospital with your family and/or friends and inform them of your estimated date of discharge. Some patients may be discharged to their own homes with assistance from community teams.
Referral by GP.