MONDAY, 7 OCTOBER, 2019

Immediate release:

Final weeks of Shaping Orthopaedic Services consultation

People are being encouraged to give their feedback on the proposals to redesign orthopaedic services before the three-month consultation closes on 31 October.

Professor Peter Stonebridge, Acting Medical Director, said, “Hundreds of people have already taken part in our Shaping Orthopaedic Services consultation and given us vital feedback. I would encourage people to take advantage of the final weeks of the consultation and let us know their thoughts about our plans.

“Feedback on the proposals so far has been positive but it is important that we hear the views of as many of our patients, staff and service users as possible to help us build services that are fit for the future.”

People can share their views by taking part in a short survey by following the link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SOSgeneral.

Feedback received on the plans so far is now being shared on NHS Tayside’s social media sites and on the dedicated Shaping Orthopaedic Services webpage at www.transformingtayside.scot.nhs.uk. People can also call 0800 7836110 or email transform-ortho.tayside@nhs.net for further information.

To ensure that our patients, their families, staff and members of the public have the chance to be involved and share their views on the proposals, a number of public engagement events have already been held since the start of the three-month consultation. Further pop up events are being planned across Tayside and details will be shared over the coming days.

As part of its wider Transforming Tayside plans, NHS Tayside is proposing to make changes to where surgeons, doctors and nurses deliver orthopaedic surgery in the region, including planned operations and unplanned trauma operations.

People in Tayside are being consulted on the following clinically preferred proposal for orthopaedic services:

• All UNPLANNED orthopaedic surgical trauma operations will be carried out at Ninewells Hospital. Patients who require further care will be transferred back to a suitable hospital closest to home within 48-72 hours after their unplanned surgery, as long as they are well enough.

• Centres of excellence for PLANNED surgery, which is the most common type of orthopaedic surgery, will be established in Perth Royal Infirmary and continue at Stracathro Hospital. A centre of excellence is where expert health professionals work together to provide the very best specialist care and treatment for patients in a dedicated area or site.

• More planned orthopaedic operations will be carried out in Perth Royal Infirmary and Stracathro Hospital, resulting in around 400 more operations per year and a reduction in waiting times.

The proposed redesign of orthopaedic services will create a service that allows NHS Tayside to deliver high quality care, respond to growing numbers of patients, reduce patient waiting times and make best use of our three acute hospital sites.

More information about Transforming Tayside and Shaping Orthopaedic Services is available at www.transformingtayside.scot.nhs.uk. People can also call 0800 7836110 or email transform-ortho.tayside@nhs.net for further information.

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138