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What to expect

Please note, face coverings must still be worn in clinical areas such as wards, Outpatients, Physio, ADCU and POAC.

A face covering can only be removed in non-clinical areas such as the Cafe.

Outpatients

Your outpatient appointment

When you arrive for your appointment visit the outpatient reception desk where you can be checked in. Your appointment letter contains the details and location of the clinic you are attending. If you need to ask any questions, talk to your receptionist or look out for one of our friendly volunteers who will be happy to help.

Please be aware that you may not always be seen by the consultant named on your letter but by a member of their team. Who you see will depend on your specific requirements. All of our staff are experienced and professional and will make sure you receive the best care possible.

Outpatient waiting times

We aim to keep waiting times as short as possible however there are times where delays occur. Your consultant and care team try to give enough time to each patient to fully examine, explain and discuss treatment options.

Cancelling your appointment

If you are unable to attend your appointment or would like to change it please let us know as early as possible. This will allow us to reschedule your appointment and offer your cancelled appointment slot to someone else. If you do not inform us you cannot attend, your referral may be returned to your GP which will mean a longer wait for you.

To cancel your appointment please contact the appointment office on 0121 685 4186 or email, Monday to Friday, 8am till 6pm.

The Pre-operative Assessment Clinic

If you and your consultant decide that surgery is the right option, you may be asked to attend the Rapid Clinic. The Rapid Clinic is the first step in checking that you are healthy and suitable for your surgery. A blood sample and swabs will be taken and you will complete a questionnaire. Provided you meet the requirements we will aim to give you a date for your surgery within three months.

If you and your consultant decide that surgery is the right option, but you are not asked to go to the Rapid Clinic, you will attend a Pre-operative Assessment appointment at a later date.

You can fill in your Pre-op Questionnaire here.

Children and Young People's Outpatient Department

Partial booking process

We are committed to continuously improving our processes. One of these projects involves the efficiency of our outpatient appointment system. Find out more about partial booking here.

Digital letters

We’re delighted to be partnering with DrDoctor, a digital health company, to introduce a new digital letter and SMS text message service across the Trust, which enables outpatients to access their letters digitally all in one place. This means you can view and download your appointment letters quicker and easier than before on your mobile phone, tablet or computer. Find out more here.

Inpatients

Preparing for Surgery

Accepting your surgery date

Elective surgery is your choice and always carries associated risks and benefits. You can decide whether to proceed with your surgery, or delay it and discuss alternative treatment options.

Please remember your admission time is not the time you will have your procedure, but it allows for you to be admitted, speak to the medical team and ensures you are safely prepared for your procedure.

Surgery and COVID

In addition to the usual risks and benefits of an operation, it is important that you understand the specific risks associated with COVID and that you also take certain precautions as recommended by your medical team.

Some patients may still be asked to isolate by their consultant but this will be done on a case-by-case basis.

If you, or a member of your household become symptomatic at any time you should inform us.

Before your procedure you will receive a full pre-operative assessment which will show whether you are fit to proceed to surgery.

You should not receive a COVID-19 vaccination 2 weeks immediately before or after surgery.

Arriving at the hospital

Before the day of your surgery you will be told where to report. Your nominated person should bring you to hospital.

Visitors

Visiting is welcome at the Trust. Please find more information here.

Nutrition

Good nutrition is important in the weeks leading up to your surgery or treatment; a well-balanced diet helps you to recover more quickly and reduces the risk of complications. Increase the amount of protein you eat in the weeks before and after your surgery. Try to drink 8 – 10 glasses of water per day in the weeks before and after your surgery. This will help your wound to heal well, make you less tired and help you to recover more quickly.

Chaplaincy

If you would like to see a Chaplain, simply inform a member of your health care team and they will arrange it for you. Find out more about Chaplaincy Services here

Before surgery

Giving Consent

Giving Consent Young People and Parents

HDU Information for Patients and Relatives

Intravenous Iron

POAC patient information

Preparing for your day case - Starved

Preparing For Your Day Procedure Non Starved

Preparing for your stay - non-starved

Preparing for your stay - starved

Receiving Donor Human Tendon, Meniscus or Bone

Stop Smoking Before Your Op

Transition to Adult Services (aged 16 - 19)

Welcome to ADCU

After Surgery

Monitoring Surgical Wounds for Infection

ADCU Discharge Anaesthetic

Preventing Blood Clots

Pin Site Cleaning

After Your Operation

Physiotherapy appointment

Telephone and video appointments

We are conducting appointments face-to-face and virtually, by telephone or video consultation.

Your therapist will try contacting you 3 times during your allocated appointment. If they are unable to get through then this will be classed as a 'did not attend' and you may be discharged.

Telephone

You will be given an appointment time in which the therapist will contact you by telephone. Please ensure we have up to date contact details for you.

Video appointments

Further instructions will be emailed to you if this appointment type is required. This will be explained to you when booking the appointment.

Checklist for your appointment

Please ensure you have an up to date list of medication to hand.
If your appointment is via video call or face to face, please ensure you are wearing shorts for a lower limb problem, or a vest top for an upper limb problem.
If you are unable to attend your virtual or face to face appointment please let us know at least 24 hours in advance so that we can offer your appointment to another patient.

Physiotherapy department: 0121 685 4120

Day Case

Day case surgery and COVID

Elective surgery is your choice and always carries associated risks and benefits. You can decide whether to proceed with your surgery, or delay it and discuss alternative treatment options. In addition to the usual risks and benefits of an operation, it is important that you understand the specific risks associated with COVID and that you also take certain precautions as recommended by your medical team.

If you, or a member of your household become symptomatic at any time you should inform us.

You will receive a full pre-operative assessment which will show whether you are fit to proceed to surgery.

You should not receive a COVID-19 vaccination 2 weeks immediately before or after surgery.

Planning your visit

Where we are

It’s a good idea to plan your visit in advance so that you can arrive on time and feel prepared. Our address is:

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust
Bristol Road South
Northfield
Birmingham
B31 2AP

Download the map

Getting here by car

Depending on where you are travelling from, you may need to drive through the Birmingham Clean Air Zone to get to us. The Clean Air Zone will help tackle Birmingham’s air quality problem by charging the owners of the most polluting vehicles £8 per day for cars, taxi and LGVs and £50 a day for coaches, buses and HGVs. A non-compliant vehicle driving in the zone will pay once for the day, then may drive in the area without limit on that day. More information about how to pay can be found here.

You can check if your vehicle is compliant in the clean air zone here.

Parking information for when you arrive can be found here

Public transport

Getting here by bus

The National Express West Midlands Services 61, 98, 63 all run from the City Centre, along Bristol Road and stop outside the Hospital gates.

The First Direct Bus service number 144 runs from the City Centre, every half hour to Bromsgrove and Worcester and stops outside the hospital.

Use the Network West Midlands journey planner

Getting here by train

The closest train station to The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital is Northfield Train Station. Please be advised that the station is approximately 1.2 miles from the hospital, a distance which may be unsuitable for some visitors.