Hundreds of patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) problems are being helped back to good health thanks to a new community project in Scunthorpe.
The team of 16 MSK physios, supported by hospital admin staff, have seen, treated and supported almost 300 patients with bad backs, shoulder injuries or leg, knee or ankle pain and other MSK issues at three special Community Appointment Days (CAD) since June.
Waiting times for appointments have fallen from the longest wait of 26 weeks to just over 10 weeks in four months, non-attendance rates have almost halved, almost a quarter of patients receive pain management support on the day and almost 20 per cent are joining initiatives to support healthier lifestyles.
Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist Hollie Iggleden, spearheading the patient improvement programme, said: “Patients are really benefiting from this new way of working. We’re treating the whole person, rather than a single problem, equipping them with the information and skills to play a part in their own recovery, while we support them to achieve their aims and set their own priorities rather than us making all the decisions for them.
“Patients can tick off lots of their wishes when they come along, rather than attend lots of different appointments, be forced to find their own motivation to make phone calls or wait for weeks to be referred to or contacted by a different team.
“We offer these sessions in addition to traditional hospital appointments and the feedback from patients have been fantastic. It’s great for our team as well to see the impact our efforts are having on improving the experience for patients.”
Around 85pc of patients attending the events rate them as “very good”, with one patient telling us: “I can now see the necessary steps to move forward to prevent my condition becoming worse.” Another told us: “Big change for the better since other appointments. Good to have other services.”
People invited to the Community Appointment Days at the new gym at Scunthorpe General Hospital complete a “Patient Passport”, outlining what they would like to achieve. Some prioritise pain management or mobility but the team has discovered many use it to highlight problems with debt, housing problems or social issues like loneliness.
Mental health service Talking Shop, Citizens’ Advice and North Lincolnshire Active have attended the three events in June, July and September, supporting patients with non-health matters which could be impeding their recovery. At the latest session, 19pc of patients were referred to North Lincolnshire Active, signing up on the spot for gym inductions, reduced gym membership fees, blood pressure checks and healthy lifestyle advice.
Other patients have received support from Orthotics, with one man with chronic ankle pain for four years preventing him from wearing work boots measured for specialist insoles, exercises to relieve his pain and dates for further assessments with the MSK Physio to monitor his progress.
More than 70 per cent have signed up for a Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU), where they are shown exercises and given advice to follow for six to eight weeks, with the opportunity to return to the team in that time if there’s no improvement.
Hollie said: “It allows them to take ownership of completing their own rehab, based on our advice and exercise routines, while remaining under our care, with the option of coming back to us if they don’t see an improvement and need a follow-up or they’re just looking for advice.
Only around 14pc of patients attending the CADs have required follow-up appointments, meaning the overall MSK waiting list has been reduced, with new patients referred by their GPs seen much quicker.
The next CAD will take place on Monday, November 25, with appointment letters going out to patients this month.