Haines J F, Thompson H
Health Trends. 1982 Aug;14(3):73-4.
This paper reviews the orthopaedic operations performed on patients from one consultant's waiting list using two short-stay wards. In a twelve-month period over 200 operations were performed with no major complication. The ultimate clinical result was not impaired by the short period of hospitalization. The advantages short-stay wards have over day wards in reducing orthopaedic waiting lists are discussed, as are the precautions necessary to make this a safe method of managing non-urgent orthopaedic problems.