Prosthetics service referrals

The prosthetics service is for patients who:

• have a prosthesis (i.e. artificial limb or other external body part), or
• have had an amputation and might need a prosthesis, or
• have an absent limb or body part for some other reason and might need a prosthesis, or
• is being considered for an amputation and needs advice beforehand.

The following points need to be considered when making a referral:

• The service is funded nationally and commissioning and funding is rarely a problem.
• All patients are seen on an outpatient basis; rarely a patient might be admitted if they have lost three or four limbs at the same time.
• The centre focuses on providing the prosthesis and giving advice on rehabilitation, but for patients from outside Oxfordshire the therapeutic input comes from local services supported by the centre.
• The service sees patients of all ages.

Referrals and contact can be about:

• urgent need for repair of a prosthesis
• need for rapid advice before amputation
• a new clinical problem in someone already known to the service
• a person who is new to the service, usually after an amputation.

Making a referral

For patients new to the service or those with a new clinical problem, a  referral should be made by letter outlining the particular problem. For patients who are new to the service, the following specific information should be included:

• underlying disease or damage causing limb loss or threatening limb loss
• limb affected and level of loss
• any pre-existing or current other disabling diseases likely to affect use of a limb.

Please send referrals to:

Prosthetics Referral
Oxford Centre for Enablement
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Windmill Road
Oxford OX3 7HE

Email: ouh.prosthetics@nhs.net  (put ‘prosthetics referral’ in subject line)

All referrals of people who have recently had an amputation are considered as soon as they arrive. The potential outcomes include:

• Referral appropriate and funding available. An appointment will be made for the patient to be seen in the next combined prosthetic assessment clinic (a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic attended by a doctor, nurse, physiotherapist and prosthetist).
• The patient's location means that they are better seen in their own local prosthetic service and the referrer will be advised of the name and address of that service.