Physiotherapy - Musculoskeletal Service

All referrals are clinically screened. Patients are then booked for appointments with a physiotherapist and the appropriate treatment modality is agreed with them. We offer assessment, diagnosis and treatment of MSK conditions including education, advice and exercises to maintain progress and to prevent reoccurrence of symptoms. This may include:

• Face to Face assessment and treatment
• Telephone and or Video consultation
• Manual Therapies
• Electrotherapies
• Group exercise, with rehabilitation options
• Exercises to improve strength, mobility and proprioception
• Acupuncture
• Orthopaedic Triage Service, which comprises; Diagnostic radiology, Injection therapy, Direct onward referral to other specialties and MDT liaison.

The Advanced Physiotherapists provide the Orthopaedic Triage service. They also have a role to support the other specialist MSK Physiotherapists in clinical supervision and provision of in-service training. We also have productive relationships with local Consultants, GPs and Community links to local health schemes.

Adult patients (>18 years old) registered to a Newham Health Locality GP and with a musculoskeletal condition appropriate for physiotherapy (e.g. not requiring secondary care intervention) may be referred to the service.

1. Direct referral from GP’s:

• Ensures better quality of referral in order to aid appropriate screening of patients.

2. Self-referral by patients:

• Allows patients to access the Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service without needing to utilise unnecessary GP appointments. Physiotherapy staff contact GP’s if further medical information is required.

All GP and Consultant referrals (Out of Borough via the GP) written on an approved referral form with the fullest possible information in order to facilitate screening. Where an approved referral form is not available a letter will be accepted so long as appropriate GP, patient and clinical details are included. These referrals are sent via the Single Point of Access (SPA) team. Self-referral forms can be accessed either directly from Stratford Physiotherapy Centre or a patient’s own Newham locality GP. The MSK Physiotherapy Service operates a clinical screening and prioritisation process with all referrals. All new referrals are screened daily by a physiotherapist and will be allocated to the appropriate service or other departments dependent on the information within the referral. All referrals are allocated urgent or routine status for appointments dependent on the information for the referral.

All first and follow-up appointments for patients referred by Newham GPs’ and self-referral will be booked by the SPA team on the EMIS booking and notation system.

Following first assessment the patient will be given advice and a plan of treatment for their problems. On completion of an episode of care the patient will be discharged with information regarding their self-management to optimise outcome.

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