Both our acute hospitals- Frimley Park and Wexham Park, have fracture clinics with plaster rooms that operate Monday to Friday.
Patients can be seen through a number of routes:
New patients
A clinic runs every weekday morning for patients referred via the emergency department (A & E) or the virtual fracture clinic.
Some patients are also referred by their GP or other healthcare providers.
These patients may need to be reviewed by an orthopaedic doctor, and may need further follow up appointments. They may also need further X-rays, casting or splinting.
Ward patients
Inpatients may be brought to the plaster room, and plaster room staff may attend patients in their wards or in operating theatres, emergency department, or in interventional radiology, when needed.
Cast and splint issues
All patients who were treated in the plaster room or fracture clinic can call us and arrange to come back to see us if experiencing any discomfort or pain from their cast or splint.
Diabetic and podiatry patients
Patients who need casting or splinting to offload diabetic ulcers will be referred to the plaster room by the podiatry team or by the foot and ankle consultant.
Paediatric care
Children who require casting or splinting due to conditions such as Talipes (clubfoot) or developmental hip dysplasia may be referred to the plaster room.
Our team
Skills
Plaster room staff are trained to apply all types of casts, both plaster of Paris casts and synthetic casts. We also fit orthopaedic splints/appliances (neck collars, spinal braces, slings, knee and ankle braces, boots and shoes). We are also able to assess orthopaedic wounds and change dressings, and remove sutures, wires and surgical clips.
Some of the team are also trained in venepuncture.
All team members support the doctors in the manipulation of fractures and removal of K-wires.
All staff working within the plaster room hold the British Casting Certificate, or are working towards it.
Frimley Park
At Frimley Park the fracture clinic is overseen by the sister in charge, and the clinics are run by a dedicated team of 4 staff nurses and 4 health care assistants. The plaster room is overseen by the lead orthopaedic casting practitioner and is run by an experienced team of 3 senior orthopaedic casting practitioners and a casting room trainee.