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Community musculoskeletal service
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About the service
The community musculoskeletal service (MSK) aims to provide a specialist triage and assessment service for MSK referrals in Barnsley. The service aims to provide the best options for care, ensuring patients are seen by the most appropriate healthcare professional, at the appropriate time and in the appropriate place.
The service provides a high-quality service for adults over the age of 16 who have a spinal, peripheral joint, soft tissue or neuromuscular problem. Children of school age are seen by the children’s therapy services.
The service brings together the previous MSK screening service, MSK assessment and treatment service and musculoskeletal physiotherapy service into one holistic service.
Patients referred to the community MSK service will be assessed by extended scope practitioners, physiotherapists or GPs with a special interest in MSK problems. They will provide advice and, where necessary, investigations to help with diagnosis and management planning. Referrals to either secondary care providers or other primary care therapy services can be made directly from this service. Initial consultations are offered by telephone, video or in person.
Further treatment by the service may include a variety of techniques such as manual therapy, exercise, self-management techniques, advice, posture correction, electrotherapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and groups eg gym and core stability.
Musculoskeletal community service leaflet
The MSK clinicians are working within Primary care as first contact practitioners “Barnsley Physio Works”. This service facilitates access to a highly skilled regulated musculoskeletal clinician, who can ensure patient’s with MSK problems are on the correct Musculoskeletal pathway, providing their MSK assessment, triage, treatment plan and (where appropriate) investigations and referral. This saves both time and resources within primary care teams.
Why would someone choose the service?
- Clinical staff help you to understand the nature of your problem and will help you to return to your best possible potential recovery.
- Our appointments allow you the time to ask questions and be involved in making decisions about your care.
- We work closely with your GP and secondary care consultants to make sure you get the best care available.
- Clinic locations available throughout Barnsley.
Staff you may meet
- There are more than 60 different specialities that doctors work within the NHS. Each is unique but there are many characteristics which are common. Roles range from working in a hospital to being based in the community as a GP.
- There are many people who work behind the scenes to keep services running and you may meet them in hospital or community settings. They include porters, cleaners, plumbers, electricians, decorators receptionists and secretaries who all work to make sure healthcare settings are kept clean, tidy and safe.
- The NHS employs a wide range of clinical staff, it wouldn’t be possible to list them all on this website! All our clinical staff are skilled, dedicated professionals who adhere to high standards of training and work-place practice.
- Receptionists are the first link for many patients and visitors. They often work on their own or with one or two other receptionists, greeting patients as they arrive and check them in. They might also collect patient notes and ensure that these vital records go to the right healthcare professional. In a clinic, they may make appointments and arrange patient transport.
Why a professional should choose the service
Delivery
The service provides a range of services to patients:
- Physiotherapy assessment and treatment.
- Appropriate diagnosis.
- Implementation of clinical decisions that result from diagnosis.
- Specialist physiotherapy.
- Injection of joints or soft tissues where required.
- Discharge planning including referral on to other services, patient education/information and self-management plans.
The service aims to provide the best options for care, ensuring patients are seen by the most appropriate healthcare professional, at the appropriate time and in the appropriate place. Patients will only be referred for hospital care when there is a need for hospital-based specialist services.
Key aims include:
- To provide clinical triage, assessment and treatment within a comprehensive clinical community service for MSK referrals.
- To reduce waiting times for patients with MSK conditions.
- To ensure patients are on the appropriate pathway, enabling them to be seen by the correct healthcare professional without delay.
- Support education and self-management, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle that will reduce recurrence of injury or illness.
A professional should choose the service because:
- PPI Audit results –year on year shows high patient satisfaction.
- Relieves burden of referrals into secondary care providers.
- Provides a service in the most appropriate setting.
- Provides diagnosis and expert advice to people who have musculoskeletal problems, helping them to remain active and at work wherever possible.
- Seamless care episodes following assessment +/- investigation with other AHP services and secondary care where indicated.
- The central point of musculoskeletal referrals.
- Highly skilled clinicians providing expert and comprehensive assessment.
Support offered
Assessment
Investigations
Education
Self-care
Exercises
Condition management
Treatment
Onward referral
Outcomes
Improved physical/mental well being
Ability to self-care
Recovery
Relapse prevention
Direction to most appropriate management intervention or treatment
Referrals accepted from:
GPs
Referrals also accepted from:
Referrals accepted from Barnsley GP practices via NHS E-Referral Service (ERS) only. Please select the following clinic within ERS.
Referral criteria:
Musculoskeletal screening service 2 telephone CAS-Orthopaedics
We also use the following for rheumatology and pain management:
- Musculoskeletal screening service 2(telephone CAS)- rheumatology
- Musculoskeletal screening service 2(telephone CAS)- pain management
Referrals must be made in conjunction with Barnsley CCG criteria for Get Fit First and clinical thresholds.
From 1 April 2018 patients are no longer able to self-refer to physiotherapy directly. Referrals should be made by GP practices as above.
Referrals will be triaged within the service and directed to the most appropriate clinic type for the patient based on the information given within the referral.
Referrals will be directed to clinicians within the community MSK service where there are indications that the patient will need conservative management, or where further investigation is required to clarify or inform the diagnosis and management options – these may include appointments with an extended scope practitioner or GPSI. Here is our referral form.
Patients will be directed to physiotherapists when:
- The condition is one that is best managed by physiotherapy, advice, self-management or where there is no clear indication for surgery.
- Treatment may include individual sessions, exercise classes, hydrotherapy or core stability exercises where appropriate.
Patients will be directed to secondary care (orthopaedics, rheumatology, pain management) where:
- There is a clear or likely indication for surgery.
- There are relevant abnormal blood results listed in the referral letter.
- The condition may require surgery and has previously been managed unsuccessfully by a conservative approach.
- Other red flags are identified.
Exclusions
- The service does not provide care for people requiring emergency treatment.
- Patients under the age of 16 should refer to children’s therapy services.
- NHS Barnsley CCG has adopted clinical thresholds and a ‘Get fit first’ policy to ensure that patients get the best clinical outcome for their condition. Referrals not meeting this criteria will be rejected back to the practice for further action.