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First Contact Physiotherapy – Extended Access Service
The First Contact Physiotherapy service, available to book as part of the Extended Access Service, is experiencing a high rate of patient DNAs as well as an increasing number of patients attending with unrealistic expectations.
The intended purpose of this service is to allow patients access to MSK expertise as a first point of contact, often from triage or signposting, in order to free up time in primary care and avoid duplicating work. Patients attending the service will receive a 15 minute appointment during which they will be screened for both MSK and possible non-MSK masqueraders and a plan will be developed for their care. This could be a self-management plan, a referral onto MSK for rehabilitation or further investigations as necessary.
Although we liaise and link into the wider MSK service we are not actually part of the service. If it is deemed a patient has complex MSK needs then a referral to MSK will be made by our service.
We realise there are huge pressures on the wider MSK service as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and we are happy to review patients who have been reviewed by a clinician in practice where there is uncertainty as to whether MSK referral is actually required, or to provide some self-management advice as appropriate whilst the patient awaits MSK input.
We would be grateful if you could please ensure that the patient is involved in a shared decision making process to attend the service to minimise our DNA rates so that both patients and practices get best use of the service.
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