To not want to go to A&E

[Sunflower99963]

Does anyone know if GP can refer us to Fracture clinic directly? I got a referral about 7 years ago when DD1 fractured a toe. Now DD2, 13 has fractured her collarbone while skiing in Spain, she was given a sling, advised reg pain killers and ice and to see dr back home.

Dr we saw last time retired, nurse practitioner said we need to go to A&E but did manage to send her and x-ray which we got done yesterday; A&E was a super busy and there was noone available to register us so we went back home.

Why do we have to queue 5 hours in A&E to be referred to fracture clinic? Internet said GP can refer us. Should I try another doctor?

Apologies, didn’t want voting just advice; not sure how to remove

We live rurally nearest hosp 30 miles away but have small hospital which have minor injuries. They X-ray and treat if needed refer directly to fracture clinic. Much quicker

If you can go to minor injuries that isn't attached to an A and E they should refer

Try minor injuries or urgent care etc, even if it’s not your closest hospital. but also ring and ask to see an actual gp at your surgery (tbh if she’s had an xray already you shouldn’t need to even see a gp can have telephone call). But yes otherwise A&E.

Thanks, will check if there is a minor injuries center near me. I was planning to try and get an appointment with another GP to see if I can get the referral. I really don’t want to go to A&E.

Minor injuries in my area would say go to GP as already have been seen but some areas are different. I would try in this order:-
GP - phone and ask first.
Minor Injuries.
A&E

When I phoned the GP yesterday, the receptionist said to go to A&E, I phoned later and managed to see nurse practitioner who said she couldn’t refer us to Fracture Clinic and to go to A&E, but I insisted and she sent the x-ray. I am going to try to get an appointment with a different GP today. I can’t find minor injuries units near me.

Not sure if it will help buy when you get to our a&e they immediately triage you to decide if a) you should be there or b) go elsewhere. They can send you straight to xray i believe. (Although I also thought the doc could send you straight to xray) xray is also sit and wait but not as long as a&e.

You could contact your private medical insurer for advice.

GPs can't refer direct to fracture clinic as they no longer have that referral route.
Whilst the queues in A&E are long this can easily be sorted by one of the nurses so you shouldn't be there that long.

They can where I live. This is the issue now as local policies are different in different areas. No wonder A&E is always full.

Hi,
Sorry to hear this has happened to you. We are in the same position. DD has fractured collarbone due to skiing accident in France. We are still however away in France not due back until Sunday.

We have private medical insurance so we've managed to have an online appointment with a GP and we have an appointment to see a consultant next week once we are home.

The accident was also in no way my daughter's fault, stood on side of slope with ESF instructor, when another skied collided with her (and my son). We will be pursuing a claim against the other skier to recover costs.

I hope your daughter is not in too much pain and you get fracture clinic sorted soon

Had exactly this same problem before and had to go to a&e. Gp would not refer. Bonkers.

Why don't you just go to A And E and wait? I really can't see the issue. At least your DD would be getting the treatment that she needs. If you had waited she would have been seen by now. I would certainly get there as soon as as A And E on a Friday night may be too special.

Does your hospital have a specific children's A&E.
Ours does and children are usually prioritised for services like X-ray.

When we've had children on
My Ward who don't live in the area. We tell them to present at their local
A&E to get into system.

My son has broken a lot of bones throughout the years playing football - I would have thought if it was a nhs X-ray the fracture clinic would review it as they double check X-rays.
but I think your best bet is to ring the fracture clinic directly and ask sec for advice.
you can also get a copy of X-ray if you ask X-ray department sometimes you need to give then a disk. I mention this incase the fracture clinic is not linked into where you had the X-ray
I wouldn’t wait too long some broken collar bones do require surgery

Thank you all. Will call fracture clinic and if not back to A&E; the queues are big and you normally have to wait a long time. It is crazy GPs can’t refer you anymore

Paediatric a&e is usually quicker, we were in and out including X rays and strapping when DS broke his finger in less than two hours, last time I went to a&e in the same hospital (gallbladder) I was there 13 hours

Go early in the morning, like now. There should be less patients (unless there’s an emergency obviously).

Fracture clinic is for after you have been a patient in the hospital, usually via A&E. You would see a consultant that oversaw your surgery/hospital stay. You could try minor injuries? They can x-ray it I think, then if it's not broken they kind of send you away, if it is you have to go A&E anyway.
You could be awaiting a very very long time in there sadly. For something quite a bit more urgent than this you can wait upto 12 hours. So you might be there even longer. Bring blankets/ pillows!

If she broke it on holiday and it got seen and xrayed etc and she had a sling, I’m not sure why she’d really even need fracture clinic unless she is in pain still or after a few weeks? Normal broken collarbones don’t need follow up… self refer to physio? Then if they had any concerns they might be able to get the right treatment organised.

I agree an and e isn’t appropriate as she was seen already for the actual break.

Everywhere I've worked, fracture clinic referral requires an XR on the hospital's system. It is usually very tedious trying to get film XRs uploaded onto the computer system and fractures may have moved or changed during travel.

My GP can as our hospital have an xray drop-in and an ecg drop-in (unsure if others they are just the ones I've used). Gp sends a referral and we turn up when we like Monday- Friday between 8am - 4pm. Been 3 times and waited less than 15 minutes every time. All NHS. My last time at the xray drop-in was only last month.

@Pjmaskmummy ours 100% do. Went last month.