The PCFC treats patients with either a simple fracture (not requiring surgery, low potential for infection), or a soft tissue injury. Patients can opt to engage with this model following presentation or referral to hospital or self-refer via a general practitioner (GP).
Following referral assessment in hospital, eligible patients are offered the opportunity to have the injury managed in a PCFC by a GP who has additional training in musculoskeletal injuries, or to be treated at the hospital outpatient fracture clinic. Patients choosing the PCFC option are provided with a brochure, contact details of the relevant clinic, and direction on making a booking. Should it be required, an escalation pathway back to a hospital orthopaedic specialist is built into the model. Supporting protocols and patient information leaflets were developed with emergency, orthopaedic and GP input.
The HHS funds the patient’s consumables and training for the GP and clinic nurses is provided by hospital orthopaedic specialists.
