Bedfordshire Hospitals celebrates five years of its Virtual Fracture Clinic, improving patient flow and speeding up access to urgent care
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is marking the fifth anniversary of its Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC), a service that has transformed how patients with orthopaedic injuries are assessed and supported following their visit to our Emergency Departments (ED).
The VFC provides rapid clinical triage for patients with suspected fractures or musculoskeletal injuries, ensuring they receive the right care at the right time. Instead of automatically attending a face to face fracture clinic appointment, patients are reviewed remotely by specialist clinicians who determine the safest and most appropriate next steps. This may include telephone advice, referral to physiotherapy or hand therapy, further imaging, or arranging a face to face appointment when needed.
Over the past year alone, the team has triaged more than 10,000 patients, with around 65% safely managed without needing to attend a traditional clinic appointment. This has helped the Trust prioritise urgent and complex cases more quickly, while ensuring all patients have direct access to the VFC team if they have concerns or their symptoms change.Importantly, the service does not replace face to face care where it is needed. Every patient is clinically reviewed, and those requiring in person assessment are brought into clinic promptly. The model is widely used across the NHS and is supported by robust governance and safety processes.
How the service works
Patients attending ED with certain injuries are referred to the Virtual Fracture Clinic
The VFC triage team (comprised of an Orthopaedic Consultant and Specialist Physiotherapist) reviews their X rays, notes and clinical information
Patients receive a phone call and written advice explaining their diagnosis and next steps or a face to face appointment is arranged
If further assessment is required, the team arranges a face to face appointment
Patients can contact the VFC directly if they have concerns or if their symptoms worsen.
Lucy Orme, Specialist Physiotherapist for the Virtual Fracture Clinic said: “We’re incredibly proud of what the Virtual Fracture Clinic has achieved over the past five years. Our focus is always on providing safe, timely and personalised care. Many patients appreciate being able to speak directly with a clinician without needing to travel back to hospital, while still knowing they can be seen face to face if needed. The service has also helped us ensure that those with more urgent injuries are seen more quickly, which makes a real difference to their recovery.”
Cathy Jones, Acting Chief Executive at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This milestone reflects the dedication and expertise of our orthopaedic, physiotherapy and emergency teams, who have worked together to create a service that is both safe and responsive. The Virtual Fracture Clinic is a great example of how we can use clinical triage to improve patient experience, reduce unnecessary appointments and ensure that people who need urgent care are seen sooner. I want to thank everyone involved for their commitment to continually improving the way we care for our patients.”
Background information
• The service is available at both Bedford Hospital and the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D), with dedicated contact points for each site• The VFC is made up of a team of six Specialist Physiotherapists, who work across the two hospitals• Staff members in the pictures are Lucy Orme, Specialist Physiotherapist and Mr Sundararajan, Orthopaedic Consultant.