The Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC) is designed to speed up patient access to orthopaedic care at our hospitals. Patients attending A&E at either Maidstone or Tunbridge Wells hospitals, or a minor injury unit, are referred to our VFC.
Patients do not have a face to face appointment. One of our orthopaedic consultants and an Extended Scope Physiotherapist look at the referral and x-rays on the next working day and decide the management of the condition. This may include:
- a fracture clinic appointment where you can be booked to be reviewed by an Orthopaedic specialist
- discharge with a home management and treatment plan
- plaster room appointment.
In all three cases the patient will be telephoned by a senior physiotherapist and told the outcome. If an appointment is needed this will be sent in the post or given to the patient over the phone depending on the urgency. If you need a change of support or removal of plaster this will be explained by the physiotherapist and a plaster room appointment arranged (these are not sent in the post as they are usually needed quickly).
If you are being discharged, you will be contacted by a physiotherapist and your treatment plan will be explained. We’ll then email an information sheet relevant to your injury. This saves an unnecessary trip to hospital and gives you the ability to manage your own condition as early as possible after injury.
We also provide an email address for further advice if needed and a helpline for those without access to email.
The best way to make contact with the VFC team is by email: mtw-tr.fracturecare@nhs.net
If you have a clinical question, or are concerned about your injury you can call 01892 638450, the VFC admin team will take a message and pass it to a physiotherapist who will call you back.
If you have to change your appointment, please be aware that you will probably have been booked to see an orthopaedic consultant who is a specialist in your kind of injury. Sometimes these clinics are not necessarily the closest to your home address. Appointments can be changed if absolutely necessary by calling 01892 638132 (please do not use this for general enquiries).
Patient information
Information leaflets giving advice and guidance about fractures and injuries are available in our patient information library.