03 November 2009
Patients in the Bath and North East Somerset area who have simple fractures now have the option to have their follow-up appointments at one of two new Community Fracture Clinics, if this is more convenient for them than the existing hospital fracture clinic at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.
The two new Community Fracture Clinics were established by Assura Minerva at the Paulton Memorial Hospital in Paulton and the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) in Bath.
The scheme forms a pilot programme designed to give patients more choice and greater convenience as well as take pressure off the existing hospital fracture clinic at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.
The Community Fracture Clinics are being held in community locations where it will be more convenient for patients with simple follow-up appointments, whilst the more complex fractures will continue to be seen in hospital.
Patients can ask to use either of the new clinics where local clinicians with expertise in fractures will see them. The clinics will initially be three times a week; once in Paulton and twice at the RNHRD. The pilot programme is for nine months.
The new service is in addition to the new GP-led Health Centre at Riverside Health Centre on James Street West, Bath and community clinics for minor surgery and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) elsewhere in Bath and North East Somerset.
Announcing the new service Dr Andrew Smith, a Bath GP, who is chairman of Assura Minerva, said: "Our aim is for the pilot scheme to result in patients getting timelier treatment in a community setting that is more convenient for them than going back to the main hospital.
"We will be working closely with the Acute Hospital Trusts and NHS Bath and North East Somerset and will be closely monitoring the progress and results."
NHS Bath and North East Somerset’s associate director of commissioning, Tracey Cox, said: "NHS Bath and North East Somerset is always pleased to test new ways of working to improve the delivery of services to the local population."
ENDS
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