In 2019, North London Partners in health and care worked with providers of elective orthopaedic care in north central London, to design a new model of care. The overall aim, which draws on international evidence, was to reduce waiting times and minimise cancellations by the creation of elective orthopaedic centres which separated planned and emergency care.
Proposals for this new model were subject to a public consultation, which ran from January – April 2020, with the new model of care in effect from April 2021.
The description of services here applies to all orthopaedic services with the exception of paediatric and spinal services.
North Central London Elective Orthopaedic Network offers excellence in orthopaedic care, research and education.
The Network has been created to improve the care offered to patients. It is based on partnership working between hospital trusts.
It is provided by North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Whittington Health NHS Trust.
Working together in this way means patients can receive timely, high-quality care. Clinicians from across hospitals work together as a single team, have joint training and education, and hospitals share their facilities, opening up access to more dedicated beds and operating theatres.
There are two partnerships for planned orthopaedic care that patients can choose from.
Patient information and a short animation has been produced to explain this choice to patients.
| Outpatient | Day surgery | Overnight surgery | |
| North Middlesex University Hospital / Royal Free London Partnership | Barnet Hospital Chase Farm Edgware Hospital Finchley War Memorial Royal Free Hospital |
Chase Farm | Chase Farm |
| North Middlesex University Hospital / Royal Free London Partnership | Barnet Hospital Chase Farm Edgware Hospital Finchley War Memorial Royal Free Hospital |
Chase Farm | Chase Farm |
| North Middlesex University Hospital / Royal Free London Partnership | Barnet Hospital Chase Farm Edgware Hospital Finchley War Memorial Royal Free Hospital |
Chase Farm | Chase Farm |
| North Middlesex University Hospital / Royal Free London Partnership | Barnet Hospital Chase Farm Edgware Hospital Finchley War Memorial Royal Free Hospital |
North Mid | Chase Farm |
| UCLH / Whittington Health Partnership | UCLH | Whittington Health UCLH |
UCLH |
| UCLH / Whittington Health Partnership | Whittington Health | Whittington Health | UCLH |
UCLH/Whittington Health Partnership
Outpatient appointments could take place at University College Hospital or The Whittington Hospital.
Day surgery could take place at University College Hospital Grafton Way Building or The Whittington Hospital
Inpatient surgery will take place at University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
North Middlesex University Hospital / Royal Free London Partnership
Outpatient appointments could take place at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, Edgware Community Hospital, Finchley Memorial Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital or the Royal Free Hospital.
Day surgery could take place at Chase Farm Hospital or North Middlesex University Hospital
Inpatient surgery will take place at Chase Farm Hospital
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital is part of the NCL Elective Orthopaedic Service and will take referrals for complex orthopaedic care.
Patients will choose between the two partnerships and will receive the same high-quality care wherever they go. They will continue to have the choice of out-of-area and private providers.
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) will take referrals for complex orthopaedic care, including revision surgery. RNOH also receives referrals for spinal operating and children. If referrers are unsure if a referral is appropriate, advice and guidance on eRS can be used for any questions.