Working for us

The musculoskeletal directorate comprises of five wards, a rheumatology day case unit, one day treatment ward and two outpatient departments – one at the Freeman Hospital and one at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, which specialise in all musculoskeletal conditions.

The musculoskeletal speciality comprises of a major trauma unit, major trauma rehabilitation unit, neck of femur unit, trauma orthopaedics, elective orthopaedics, soft tissue and bone tumour sarcoma service, emergency and elective spinal conditions and rheumatology services.

Freeman Hospital

Ward 4

Ward 4 is a day treatment centre open Monday to Friday for day of surgery arrival patients for multiple directorates including orthopaedics, surgery, ENT, renal and urology. This includes day case surgery, intravenous infusion therapies and biopsy surgery.

Ward 19

This is a 34-bedded orthopaedic elective ward at present reduced to 22 beds, which is the main arthroplasty elective ward specialising in hip and knee surgery and lower limb elective surgery. From November 2020, it has been specialising in all types of medical patients and complex rheumatology inpatients.

Ward 20

A 20-bedded orthopaedic elective ward at present reduced to 16 beds, specialising in all orthopaedic conditions requiring elective surgery. This comprises of hip and knee arthroplasty surgery, foot and ankle surgery, upper limb surgery and complex sarcoma surgery.

Rheumatology daycase unit

Our 13-bedded rheumatology day unit is open Monday to Friday specialising in chemotherapy and intravenous infusion treatments for all rheumatology conditions.

MSU outpatient department

This outpatient department caters for arthroplasty and upper limb elective surgery patients, sarcoma and rheumatology services with a metabolic bone unit.

RVI

Fracture Clinic

This outpatient department caters for all trauma orthopaedic patients, elective and trauma spinal patients, foot and ankle service and the upper limb trauma service. The plaster technician service is based in the clinic.

Ward 22

A 34-bedded orthopaedic trauma ward consisting of a 20-bedded orthopaedic trauma unit specialising in all orthopaedic trauma injuries and a 14-bedded neck of femur unit.

Ward 23 RVI

A 31-bedded ward, comprising of a 21 bedded Major Trauma Unit and 10 bedded Major Trauma Rehabilitation Unit. This ward cares for an extremely varied patient group from patients with minor orthopaedic injuries, to those who have suffered complex poly-trauma and have complex injuries and require rehabilitation.

Ward 42 RVI

A 27-bedded spinal ward which normally specialises in elective and trauma spinal services with also trauma elective upper and lower limb patients. The ward also has a nine-bedded day-case unit. From March 2020, Ward 42 has been converted to a medical ward, with its own designated consultants, where patients with all different complex conditions have been admitted.

Shift Patterns:

We operate a varying shift pattern on the wards, which include 12-hour shifts but shorter shifts are accommodated. The 12 hour shifts start at 7.30am until 8.45pm, Early shifts are from 7.30am until 2.30pm, late shifts 1.45pm until 8.45pm and the night shifts from 8.30pm until 7.40am. All staff undertake internal rotation on the wards.

Staff Groups:

We have the following staff working within the departments, Matron, Deputy Matron, Sister/ Charge Nurse, Clinical Educator, Nurse Practitioner trainees, Specialist nurses, Staff Nurses, Nursing Associates, Assistant Practitioners, Healthcare Assistants, Ward Clerks and Housekeeper.

Staff Training:

We provide a preceptorship package that gives staff an excellent structured preceptorship supported with supernumerary practice.

All staff are given the opportunity to attend regular study and support from our clinical educator within the clinical area
Clinical Educator arranges regular Mandatory training days for staff
Opportunities are given to work on wards within the Directorate to increase experience in all Orthopaedic conditions
Staff are supported to attend any in house study days and if they would like to further develop the opportunity is there to apply for University Courses