Sixty patients with hip and knee conditions were assessed and moved on to the next step in their care at a mega orthopaedic clinic held in Whakatāne.

The clinic prioritised patients who had been waiting the longest for specialist assessment, helping reduce wait times and ensure those with the greatest delays were seen sooner.

Every patient left with a clear next step, whether that was referral for surgery, further investigations, or follow-up treatment.

The clinic aimed to reduce waiting times for patients needing specialist assessment and to explore a different approach to delivering care.

The initiative was led by orthopaedic surgeons Georgina Chan and Mark Stringer, supported by registrars (specialist doctors in training) and advanced practitioner physiotherapists. Unlike a traditional outpatient clinic, which relies on smaller teams, the mega clinic brought together a larger multidisciplinary workforce to assess more patients in a single day.

This approach sped up access to specialist assessment and treatment planning while maintaining the same high standard of care. All patients were assessed using the same clinical processes and specialist oversight as routine orthopaedic services.

Of the 60 patients seen, 39 progressed to the surgical waitlist, 10 received a plan for further investigations or treatments and 11 were assessed and given a clear plan to manage their condition, with no further specialist appointments required.

The clinic enabled patients to receive a specialist assessment and clear treatment plan sooner, helping them move more quickly to the next stage of their care.

Health New Zealand national consultant practitioner and clinical lead advanced practitioner, Catherine Willis, said the clinic showed what could be achieved when different disciplines worked together.

“The mega clinic assessed a much larger number of people in a single day than a typical outpatient orthopaedic clinic, with around 44 additional patients seen.

“It also demonstrated the effectiveness of advanced practitioner physiotherapists working alongside orthopaedic surgeons, with high levels of agreement on the most appropriate treatment pathway for patients.”

Willis said the clinic showed the value of a team-based approach to improving access to specialist care.

“Mark and Georgina’s leadership was essential in establishing the clinic, but it was also the result of many people’s efforts, including orthopaedic surgeons, registrars, nursing, administration, radiology and operational teams,” said Willis.

The clinic also provided valuable insights into clinic design, patient flow and staffing models, while identifying opportunities to improve booking processes, referral pathways, patient records, and IT systems.

Lessons from the clinic will help inform future service planning and identify further opportunities to improve access to orthopaedic care for patients across the region.