1) A day case emergency hand surgery system was introduced in 2003 at a hospital in Birmingham to treat hand trauma patients as outpatients rather than inpatients. This led to a 37% increase in the number of patients treated between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. 2) Prior to the new system, only 4% of patients were treated without being admitted, whereas in 2004-2005 60% of patients were treated as day cases, saving over 1,600 bed days. 3) Patient satisfaction increased significantly with complaints reduced by 99% after implementing the coordinated day case system versus before when most patients were admitted as inpatients for hand injuries.