GIRFT Orthopaedic Trauma Services Survey - Wales

Overview

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Adult Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Questionnaire and thank you for engaging and supporting us.  

The scope of Adult Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery is broad. Therefore, to make this questionnaire relevant - particularly during this time of unprecedented change - I have focussed on those areas which I believe to be important in themselves or a general indicator of a unit's well-being. The datapack and the questionnaire are not the endpoints but hopefully the foundations for productive discussion in the deep dive visit.

Following wide consultation, I have chosen to explore those areas in which there is already national or professional consensus as expressed in up to date NICE guidelines or BOASTs (British Orthopaedic Association Standards). Where appropriate in this questionnaire, I have referenced the relevant NICE guideline or BOAST and these can be viewed at the following links or on the relevant websites:

• www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng37
• www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng38
• www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg124
• www.boa.ac.uk/standards-guidance/boasts

The functional unit for the delivery of Orthopaedic Trauma Services will vary depending on the nature of the injury in question. I recognise that whilst some injuries will be generally dealt with at the presenting hospital others require co-operation between units.

In some instances, I have asked whether there is a relevant in-house policy for particular issues and - should you have examples of exemplary practice - whether you would be happy to share these with others via the GIRFT or British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) website? This would help other trusts in formulate their own local policies and would also be quicker than waiting for the production of a final report. There is space available at the end of the questionnaire to record these.

There are also some questions that will need a short period of data collection i.e. “Theatre team preparedness and education.” This particular section will necessitate some information being gathered locally at WHO timeouts ahead of the GIRFT Orthopaedic Trauma visit. 

One of the outcomes of each visit will be a number of recommendations. Consequently, it would be very helpful if -  as a group and prior to the visit -  you could consider two or three areas in which you feel the most progress could be made and complete the relevant section with brief and pertinent answers. This would be very much appreciated and help me to better understand your service in advance of the meeting.

In the meantime, I look forward to receiving your completed responses and meeting you at our Deep Dive.

Bob Handley
National Clinical Lead for GIRFT Orthopaedic Trauma