The Challenge
Plaster casts are issued to thousands of patients each year at Bradford Teaching Hospitals — but the team found that traditional paper leaflets were often misplaced, overlooked, or misunderstood.
This resulted in frequent phone calls and unplanned return visits, with the plaster room handling around 20 calls and more than 30 drop-ins per week for questions that could have been prevented with clearer guidance.
The team wanted to create a simple, accessible way for patients to get the right advice at the right time, reducing pressure on clinical staff while improving patient confidence in managing their cast at home.
Our Approach
Story worked closely with Bradford’s plaster technicians to develop a dedicated Plaster Room website, accessed instantly via QR codes placed directly onto each cast.
The aim was to replace written leaflets with a digital-first resource that patients could rely on throughout their recovery.
Together, we:
- Designed a clean, mobile-first microsite giving patients cast-specific guidance, from swelling and pain management to do’s and don’ts and warning signs.
- Structured content by cast type, ensuring patients land immediately on information relevant to them.
- Built a flexible platform that the Trust can easily update as clinical practice evolves, including adding videos and multilingual support.
- Crafted clear, reassuring information written in plain English — helping patients feel confident and supported without needing to call or return to hospital.
The Outcome
The result is a simple, intuitive digital hub that empowers patients to self-manage their cast safely and confidently.
For the plaster room team, the new approach has delivered significant improvements:
- Weekly phone enquiries have reduced from around 20 to just 5.
- Unplanned plaster-room visits have fallen from 35 per week to approximately 5.
- Staff now save over an hour of clinical time each week, allowing them to focus on more complex patients.
The service has also demonstrated measurable financial value, with estimated savings of £580–£981 per week based on reduced appointments alone.
The Impact
The QR-code plaster care initiative has transformed how cast aftercare is delivered — offering patients reliable, always-available guidance in the moments they need it most.
For clinicians, it has reduced workload, improved efficiency, and created a sustainable digital model that other specialties within the Trust are now exploring.
The project went on to receive national recognition, winning the Technology & Data in Nursing Award at the Nursing Times Awards — a testament to the innovation, collaboration, and patient-centred thinking behind it.