title: Is it financially efficient to lose the ring-fenced elective orthopaedic ward?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In an effort to rationalize National Health Service (NHS) funds in the United Kingdom, some hospitals have used the orthopaedic elective ring-fenced ward to admit general acute emergencies, admitting elective arthroplasty patients to general wards.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyse the financial effect and length of stay of elective arthroplasty patients admitted to general wards rather than 'ring-fenced' orthopaedic wards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational study
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital care
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period between 01 November 2010 and 31 March 2011, 194 consecutive patients were admitted for elective total hip and total knee arthroplasties. Due to increased bed pressures, 35 (18.04 %) of the patients were admitted to general wards instead of our standard elective ring-fenced orthopaedic ward. Data was collected and analysed for type of surgery, age, sex, length of stay, and ward.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average length of stay in the general wards was 1.89 days longer (range 3-22 days; p < 0.001) than in the elective orthopaedic ward.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that losing the ring-fenced ward and admitting elective arthroplasty patients to general wards results in longer length of stay and a financial loss of 6.82 % per hip and knee arthroplasty patient.
authors.affiliation: Trauma and Orthopaedics, Luton & Dunstable Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Lewsey Road, Luton, LU4 0DZ, UK. agustinsoler@me.com
authors.forename: J Agustin
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Sanjiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manjure
authors.forename: Yegappan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kalairajah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000191:economics*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000191:economics*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006113:United Kingdom