TRAUMA & ORTHOPAEDICS (T&O)

Colchester Hospital

Trauma and orthopedics (T&O) at Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals are busy and active departments that see a wide range of trauma and elective cases. There is also a spinal team that operates across both sites. Ipswich is a regional tertiary referral centre for spinal surgery.

Ipswich Hospital

The T&O team at Ipswich Hospital is comprised of 7 consultants and 6 higher speciality trainee registrars. There are also 4 advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs), 2 trust grade SHOs and several foundation doctors.

There are two 28-bed trauma wards, one of which is an orthogeriatrics ward. There are trauma theatre lists running every day.

The T&O team at Colchester Hospital is comprised of 14 consultants (3 knee, 4 hip, 3 upper limb, 3 foot and ankle and 1 spine), 2 associated specialists, 6 higher speciality trainee registrars and 1 core trainee. There are also 3 staff grade senior registrars and 6 trust grade SHOs.

There are two 32-bed trauma wards and one 32-bed elective ward. There are a large number of trauma and elective theatre cases every day. A dedicated Orthopaedic Centre is currently being built on site and will provide a specialist service with 6 theatres and 2 wards. This will provide an even higher volume of trauma and elective cases for trainees.

Awards

Colchester was awarded Training Hospital of the Year in the East of England Orthopaedic Training Survey two years in a row (2021 and 2022).

Trainer of the Year (Mr Loeffler) with 3 consultants as runners up for this award.

Training Opportunities

Trauma and orthopaedics is a busy department with a wide variety of trauma experience. The departments pride themselves on ensuring trainees have protected theatre time. Trainees report excellent opportunities in theatres which enable them to achieve exemplary logbook numbers. There are particular opportunities for arthroplasty including NAVIO/CORI Smith and Nephew robotic navigated total knee replacements.

There is regular departmental teaching including daily trauma meetings and weekly SHO teaching. There are opportunities for higher speciality trainees to teach at these weekly sessions. Trainees are also encouraged to attend specialist MDT meetings, these include hips, knees, foot and ankle, upper limb, and a specialist knee infection MDT.

Alongside theatre experience, at Colchester hospital there is an onsite simulation centre, ICENI, which runs numerous orthopaedic courses including soft tissue knee course, arthroscopy and compartment syndrome.

Trainees are encouraged to take part in audits and quality improvement projects with plenty of ideas and support available for these. There are monthly audit meetings where these can be presented.