FOI/2025/26/089

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Reference FOI/2025/26/089
Description Monthly Short-Arm Casting Data (Past 3 Years)
Date requested 06/06/2025
Attachments N/A

Request

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request data on the use and management of short-arm casting within your Trust. For the past three calendar years (or the most recent available), broken down by month, please provide the following:

1. Clinical Outcomes & Follow-up

  • Number of short-arm casts applied
  • Re-casting (refracture) rate within 6–12 weeks
  • Complication rates (e.g. skin breakdown, pressure sores, compartment syndrome)
  • Follow-up appointment frequency for cast checks and removal

2. Financial & Resource Metrics

  • Average cost per short-arm cast treatment (materials, labour and appointments)
  • Cost comparison between plaster and fibreglass casts
  • Total annual spend on casting materials
  • Costs associated with cast-related complications or unplanned re-interventions

3. Staff Time & Workforce

  • Staff time allocation per cast application (by professional category)
  • Average staff time required for application and removal of a short-arm cast
  • Number of staff trained to apply and remove short-arm casts

4. Patient Experience

  • Patient-reported issues (e.g. hygiene difficulties, discomfort, lifestyle interference)

If any of these data are not held, or if providing any item would still exceed the cost/time limit under Section 12 of the Act, please identify which points are unavailable and advise how I might narrow the scope further under Section 16.

In accordance with Section 8(1)(b), I confirm that I am acting on behalf of the following agents:

Response

Short arm casting is typically carried out within acute trusts or hospital settings. This is not a service that our organisation provides, and as such, we do not hold information relating to patients who have received short arm casts.

Consequently, we are unable to differentiate or identify any relevant patient feedback specific to this treatment. This means we do not hold any patient-reported issues such as hygiene concerns, discomfort, or interference with daily activities related to short arm casting.

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