Latest News
01 July 2018
In order to see our patients more quickly we have been piloting a back education session. Patients referred to MSK Physiotherapy with back pain will be offered this type of appointment. In the session they will learn all about back pain, it’s causes and what you can do to help. Following the education session you will be assessed by a Physiotherapist and then together you will agree your treatment plan.
01 June 2018
With 8 GP practices in Haringey and Islington we are now piloting a new way of managing MSK referrals to try and ensure that all our patients are seen in the right place first time (it is called a single point of access). We are collecting lots of data to see how well this is working before we consider rolling it out across all GP practices in Haringey and Islington.
01 May 2018
From our MSK CATS service patients with a frozen shoulder can now access a special type of injection that may help restore flexibility sooner. Previously patients would have had to wait to see an Orthopaedic Consultant to be referred for this. This new pathway means our patients can access their treatment sooner.
29 June 2017
In February 2017 and in partnership with Islington CCG and 3 Islington GP practices, we have launched a Musculoskeletal (MSK) service pilot based on the MSK First Contact Practitioner model. These pilot ties in with NHS England’s commitment to expanding Physiotherapy in GP practices, with the longer term aim of improving Primary Care Provision, whilst addressing the problem of capacity within General Practice. The pilot involves providing a complex MSK service which is run by Advance Practice Physiotherapists (APP) who will provide direct access to MSK services for patients who might have otherwise seen their GP for their MSK problem. The Advance Practice Physiotherapists have the right skill set and expertise to provide a solution for patients presenting with MSK issues. They can order investigations, provide corticosteroid injections and prescribe painkillers as well as assess and diagnose MSK problems. The pilot also includes an MSK physiotherapy service from within the GP practices. The aim of the pilot is to free up GP time from managing MSK problems, as well as seeing patients closer to home and providing timely access to MSK advice and treatment to help speed up recovery and prevent chronicity. A secondary aim of the pilot is also to reduce unnecessary referrals in to secondary care.
Our new website launched in June 2017 with new patient self management videos and leaflets for patients and GP’s to download. Please share our webpage address to help more people access the support they need to look after themselves.
We are in the process of setting up an exercise group for patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (an inflammatory type of back pain) in association with NASS (National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society). It will be called NASS Haringey and Islington, there will be information on our website and the NASS website by the autumn this year. Their website is http://www.nass.co.uk/.
We are piloting a new way of seeing our back and neck pain patients in physiotherapy, which will begin with an education session to help everyone access information to help themselves get better as soon as possible. We are following the latest NICE guidance published last year for low back pain (www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng59).
The new and free escape pain app is available for all patients with chronic hip or knee pain who want to begin exercising. It is an excellent app and lots of research supports this programme as a great way for getting more active with hip and knee pain.
Last updated26 Jul 2018