University College London Hospital
Trauma & Orthopaedics

London, United Kingdom

The Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) Department at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a large, specialist service that provides comprehensive care for patients with bone, joint, and musculoskeletal conditions, covering both emergency trauma and planned (elective) orthopaedic surgery.

Overview and scope
The department delivers care across the full spectrum of orthopaedic conditions — from acute injuries such as fractures and crush injuries to chronic conditions like osteoarthritis and complex joint problems. It manages both traumatic injuries (often via the Emergency Department) and non-traumatic conditions requiring surgical or non-surgical treatment.
It is a high-volume, multidisciplinary service, working closely with specialties such as rheumatology, oncology, radiology, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy to provide integrated patient care.

Structure and locations
Care is delivered across several sites within the UCLH network:

• University College Hospital (UCH): Main site for trauma (emergency) care and fracture clinics
• Grafton Way Building: Dedicated elective orthopaedic centre with theatres and inpatient wards
• Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH): Specialist centre for sports injuries and rehabilitation

This multi-site structure allows separation of emergency and planned surgery, improving efficiency and reducing cancellations.

Clinical services
The department offers a wide range of services, including:

• Fracture clinics (including virtual fracture clinics for remote follow-up)
• Elective surgery such as hip and knee replacements
• Specialist clinics (e.g. upper limb, lower limb, hand & wrist, foot & ankle)
• Sports injury services with physiotherapy support
• Rapid-access and one-stop clinics for urgent cases

UCLH’s T&O department acts as a tertiary referral centre, receiving patients from across London, the South East, and sometimes nationally—particularly for complex cases and sports injuries.
It is also closely linked with academic and research activity (through UCL), contributing to advances in orthopaedic surgery, rehabilitation, and sports medicine.

Summary
In essence, the UCLH Trauma and Orthopaedic Department is a busy, specialist-led service combining:

• Acute trauma care
• High-volume elective surgery
• Subspecialist expertise
• Strong multidisciplinary and research links