60 seconds with… Mr Peter Domos

14 June 2019

Mr Peter Domos, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, and virtual fracture clinic lead

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your background?

I’m a consultant trauma and orthopaedic (T&O) surgeon. I qualified from the University of Pecs Medical School in Hungary. After completing my postgraduate T&O training in Cambridge, I undertook the prestigious Calvert Shoulder Fellowship in London.

Tell us about your role?

I provide general trauma and full shoulder and elbow services for degenerative disorders (for example inflammatory conditions), sport injuries and complex trauma. My specialist interests are in shoulder and elbow arthroscopy, open joint reconstruction and joint replacement. In addition, I am the clinical lead for the virtual fracture clinic (VFC), which involves managing a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and administrative staff.

Can you tell us more about the VFC?

Many patients visit our emergency departments and urgent care centres with a musculoskeletal injury (eg a soft tissue injury or bone fracture). They are often booked to come into a traditional fracture clinic for a follow-up.

The VFC is an alternative to this – many patients who come in with these types of injuries often do not need to be seen in hospital. My team runs the VFC at BH five days a week. We look at patients’ notes and scans, and assess ‘virtually’ if they need to come into hospital for further treatment, or if they can be discharged as their injury will usually heal well by itself. A member of the team will call the patient after their virtual assessment to discuss the next steps and provide advice and information.

The VFC is also now a pathway we’re developing as part of the surgery and associated services’ clinical practice group work. In the last couple of years this service has been up and running, we’ve found it to be just as safe and effective as a traditional fracture clinic, where the patient has to come in. We’ve had lots of positive feedback from patients about their experience of the VFC, who tell us it saves their time and works flexibly around many of their working and daily lives. It also means we get to see and review patients who require more urgent treatment much more quickly.

Can you describe an average week?

Usually busy, with clinical commitments across BH, CFH and RFH – this includes seeing patients in VFCs as well as other out-patient clinics, carrying out elective operations at CFH and on-call trauma services at BH. I also provide teaching sessions for physiotherapists and trauma and orthopaedic surgical trainees.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

When a patient’s treatment has been successful.

What’s the biggest challenge in your job?

Bridging the gap between demand and the capacity in this challenging financial climate.

What’s the best thing about your role?

In addition to my routine clinical work, I have the opportunity to manage and lead a highly skilled and motivated VFC multidisciplinary team to improve patient care.

What would be your perfect day away from work?

A lazy day in the sunshine with family and friends.