Orthopaedic clinic - Foot and ankle outpatient service in CALHN
The Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Foot and Ankle outpatient clinics (part of the RAH Orthopaedic Unit) provide assessment and treatment services for patients living in the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) area who suffer from adult degenerative foot and ankle disorders and lower limb fractures.
Services are also provided to patients referred from rural and remote areas.
Services
Services include:
- Foot and ankle disorders
- Assessment and treatment
- Inpatient admission
Appointment location
Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH)
Outpatient clinics are held on Level 3 (ground floor) of the RAH.
Our clinic is located at Level 3G.
Royal Adelaide Hospital
1 Port Road SA 5000
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH)
Orthopaedic Outpatients, Ground floor, Area 3
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
28 Woodville Road, Woodville SA 5011
Clinic times
RAH clinics operate once a month on Mondays and Wednesday afternoons.
GP information
Refer your patient
Fax referral to us
We accept GP and specialist referrals to this service.
All referrals are triaged by the service according to clinical urgency. Patients who are unstable and requiring immediate assessment should be sent directly to the Emergency Department.
To refer your patient, follow the outpatient service information, triage and referral guidelines, complete and fax a referral to us. For urgent referrals, also contact the orthopaedic registrar to discuss the case.
To ensure appropriate and timely triage, include all demographic and clinical details well as relevant investigation results.
If you are concerned about any delay of the appointment or if there is any deterioration in your patient’s condition, contact the Registrar on call on (08) 7074 0000.
Clinical features indicative or potentially serious pathology
- Swelling, erythema, marked reduction in range of motion of a joint (septic arthritis)
- Acute deformity following recent trauma
To make a referral
Fax: (08) 7074 6247
Telephone: 1300 153 853
Non-urgent referrals
Non-urgent referrals will be allocated to the next available appointment. Non-urgent referrals will incur a wait. The waiting time for appointment will vary and be dependent on the demand for this service and the medical urgency of the patient’s condition.
Foot and ankle problems not considered high priority (see related resources below for eligibility and referral criteria) may wait a longer time for an appointment. Please consider other options and do not refer to multiple providers regarding the same presenting complaint.
Referrals unlikely to be offered an appointment
Foot and ankle clinics do not provide second opinions for patients already under the care of other orthopaedic surgeons. Transfer of care from another specialist may be accepted.
Referrals from other outpatient clinics in the RAH may not be accepted unless specific foot and ankle input is required for the condition for which the patient is already attending a hospital outpatient clinic.
Consultants and registrars of other clinics should consider whether incidental non-threatening musculoskeletal problems could be managed by a patient’s general practitioner and whether the problem merits specialist resources.
Discharge guidelines and information
If the patients or their general practitioner is concerned about a deterioration in the medical condition (see related resources below and clinical features indicative of potentially serious pathology above) and a foot and ankle assessment is required earlier than planned, a phone call to the orthopaedic registrar on call through the switchboard on (08) 7074 0000 will allow this to be discussed.
Patients whose medical condition has stabilised or resolved and for whom no further appointment has been made will be formally discharged. If a foot and ankle assessment is required again, a new referral, preferably a named referral should be faxed to the orthopaedic unit on (08) 7074 6247.
Alternate care options / health information for low priority
Not all patients with foot and ankle conditions can be offered appointments in CALHN clinics.
In most cases, the key to appropriate management is a detailed history and examination. Options for obtaining further information regarding various foot and ankle conditions and to provide guidance for assessment, investigations and management are listed under the below pathways and resources.
Health Pathways
Health Pathways South Australia is an online portal designed to be used by general practice at the point of care to guide best practice assessment, management and referral of common clinical conditions.
Related resources
- Flat feet (PDF 224KB)
- Metatarsalgia / Morton’s neuroma (PDF 224KB)
- Plantar fasciitis (PDF 225KB)
- Hallux rigidus (PDF 128KB)
- Hallux valgus (PDF 127KB)
- Ankle / hindfoot arthritis (PDF 132KB).
Patient information
How to access that clinic
Referral from your GP
You need a referral letter from your GP or medical practitioner to access this service.
Your doctor will need to fax your referral letter to us. We will be in contact with you within clinically recommended times, depending on waiting list length. If there is no waiting list, you will receive an appointment booking letter or we will contact you to arrange a suitable time.
Please refer to the information sheets below for information regarding the outpatient service.
Information sheets
- Specialist outpatient clinics FAQs (PDF 255KB)
- Outpatient Clinic Appointments patient information and responsibilities (PDF 244KB)