Self Referral to Muculoskeletal

Physiotherapy Services

Senga Cree - Professional Lead Physiotherapy Services NHS

Lanarkshire

Background-Pre Self Referral

• 30,000 MSK referrals per annum• Demand exceeded capacity• GP acted as gatekeeper to the service• Variation in:

– Waiting times– DNA’s – Opportunity for patients to self

manage

Self Referral Model• Single point of access• Initial telephone assessment and advice• Number of exit routes

– Self management– Face to face treatment– Group exercise– Case management– Chronic pain service

Why this model?• Delivers equity of access• Supports the quality strategy • Clinical governance• Best value• Corner stone to delivering wider

innovation in AHP MSK services

Assessment Form

Implementation• Project Board• Current best practice, evidence base• Stakeholders events• Call management system • IT support- patient information and

electronic transfer• Staff training package• Marketing• Pilot• Data• Evaluation

Impact• 22% increase in referrals• 30% discharged to self management• 4367 telephone assessments

completed• Assessment completed on day of

phone call or if message left within 2 working days

• No wait for specialist advice (provided on average 6 weeks quicker)

Impact

• 30% “true” self referral• 70% go on for face to face

treatment• DNA average 5%• Need for repeat treatment

reduced for those receiving initial telephone assessment

Three top tips• Robust systems- processes, data,

IT• Staff and stakeholder

engagement• Sustainability

Thank you!

• Any questions

• senga.cree@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk