A new ‘One Stop’ Physiotherapy Clinic in the South Eastern Trust has helped an incredible 1,500 patients so far.
The Physiotherapy Community Appointment Days bring together Physiotherapists and a range of community and voluntary organisations, giving patients the opportunity to discuss their physical health alongside the wider factors that can affect their wellbeing and reducing the need for patients to attend an acute hospital setting.
So far the Trust has held 10 of these days – and its first in Downpatrick, where patients were able to access support from Ballynahinch Counselling, Trust Carers Support, the Trust’s Falls Team, Downe Community Advice, the Down Multi-Disciplinary Team, the Health Development Nutrition Team, Recovery College and Arthritis UK.
The Physiotherapy Community Appointment Days mean around 70% more patients can be seen on the day, closer to their home, which is helping to reduce the average musculoskeletal outpatient waits from 18 months to around 10 months.
Across the ten Physiotherapy Community Appointment Days held in North Down and Ards and Lisburn areas, around 55% of patients have not needed to return for a one-to-one outpatient appointment. Instead, they have been given personalised advice, treatment or support on the day or connected directly with community services that can help them manage their health and wellbeing
Downpatrick Physiotherapy patient, David Campbell said that being able to access a range of services and support in one place made a real difference.
“I found it very helpful and very informative. It is a great use of the venue and even better that everything is here under one roof. There are Physios, the Nutrition Team, carer support and counselling services. You do not have to travel around, because everything is in one place here in the Great Hall.
“This initiative is bringing care closer to the community. A hospital can sometimes have that hospital atmosphere where you feel like a patient and you are sitting wondering what is going on. This is much more relaxed and you can move around and go at your own pace.
“Everything is under one roof and you can find out what is right for you. Rather than having to go through one waiting list and then another waiting list, it feels like you are getting the right support in the right place at the right time.
The model has also attracted interest from colleagues across Northern Ireland, with Regional teams visiting the Trust to learn more about the initiative.
The approach supports the wider reform of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland which is focused on improving access to care, increasing capacity and shifting more services into communities so people can receive support closer to home.
South Eastern Trust, MSK Lead Physiotherapist, Eilis McGarvey said the 10th event represented an important milestone for the initiative.
“We have now brought the model right across the Trust area and have welcomed around 1,500 people through the doors to access care and support in their community.
“The reduction in waiting times has been a really positive outcome. Average musculoskeletal outpatient waits have reduced from around 18 months to approximately 10 months and that is a significant achievement.”
Eilis continued, “Reducing the waiting list is only one part of what these days are about. They are about giving us more capacity to see the patients who really need a one-to-one appointment sooner, while ensuring that other patients receive the right support without having to return to hospital.
“The Physiotherapy Community Appointment Day model recognises that musculoskeletal conditions can affect much more than a person’s physical health, with social, emotional and economic factors also influencing recovery and wellbeing. Rather than simply signposting patients to another service, staff can introduce them directly to community partners on the day.”
South Eastern Trust, Physiotherapist, Paddy Wright said this immediate connection can make a significant difference, “The benefit of the Physiotherapy Community Appointment Day is having so many community partners in the room with you rather than simply signposting someone and asking them to follow it up afterwards.
“We can actually walk the patient over and introduce them to the people who can help. It removes that barrier of having to make another appointment or remember to follow something up after leaving. Patients are also discovering just how much support is available locally. There are activity groups and community services that people may not even realise are there.
“It is really positive to see the different teams working together and to understand what each service can offer. Ultimately it means we can look at the whole person and provide the support they need.”
Eilis added, “Musculoskeletal conditions affect more than half a million people across Northern Ireland. Having this one-stop community model allows us to personalise care and ensure people avoid unnecessary hospital visits and get the right support closer to home.”