• Patients under 16 years of age require Comments, compliments, a written referral from their GP for concerns or complaints musculoskeletal physiotherapy South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is concerned • Patients who are under the care of a about the quality of care you receive and strives to consultant for their problem will need maintain high standards of health care. a written referral However we do appreciate that there may be an • Patients who require a walking aid or occasion where you, or your family, feel dissatisfied orthosis such as a splint or a brace with the standard of service you receive. Please do not require a written referral from their GP hesitate to tell us about your concerns as this helps us to learn from your experience and to improve services • Patients who have multiple for future patients. musculoskeletal problems. These patients require a written referral. Patient Advice and PhysioDirect • Patients with pelvic floor related Liaison Service (PALS) problems such as incontinence and Patient Information vaginal prolapse or patients with back This service aims to advise and support patients, and pelvic pain in pregnancy should be families and carers and help sort out problems quickly on your behalf. This service is available, and based, at referred direct to specialist services at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital. the Friarage Hospital in , our community hospitals and community health services. Please ask a member of staff for further information. How to access PhysioDirect There is a dedicated appointment If you require this information in line answered by clerical staff from the Friarage Hospital physiotherapy a different format please contact department in Northallerton. They will Freephone 0800 0282451 ask you for your NHS number (found on page 2) in order to register you on our Physiotherapy electronic appointments system. Department

They will offer you the next available Author: Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy appointment which may be a PhysioCall consultation or a PhysioContact Friarage Hospital consultation. Bullamoor Road, Northallerton, DL6 1JG. Switchboard: 01609 779911 The number to call our appointment line Version 4, is: The line is normally 01609 763747. Issue Date: October 2017 open Monday to Friday between 9am and Review Date: October 2019 MIPS4639 4pm (excluding bank holidays). Direct access to NHS physiotherapy Where possible, you will be given a What happens during a services for the management of choice of having a PhysioCall consultation PhysioContact consultation? musculoskeletal conditions in the or a PhysioContact consultation but Hambleton and Richmondshire areas of this may be dependent on our soonest An experienced physiotherapist will see . availability and clinic location. Both types you at one of our clinic locations and ask of consultations will take approximately you questions regarding your problem. Your NHS Number: 20-30 minutes. They will also assess your current problem and advise you regarding the best If you are unavailable at your allotted evidence based course of management appointment time or are late for your available to you. Together with the About PhysioDirect appointment you may need to contact physiotherapist you can then decide what our appointment line to rebook. Please the best management plan is for you. PhysioDirect is the convenient way to do not let appointments go to waste. access NHS musculosketal physiotherapy Please wear appropriate clothing for a Your GP may recommend that you use for patients who have muscle or joint PhysioContact consultation ie: shorts for this service to access physiotherapy but problems. Patients who contact the a back or leg problem you can also contact the service directly service with low back pain or sciatica will without having to see your GP first. be advised to contact their GP after two weeks if they do not improve. We will inform your GP that you have Who cannot use the service? used the PhysioDirect service. The service is for people registered with • Patients who have communication GPs in the Hambleton and Richmondshire difficulties and cannot communicate areas of North Yorkshire only. effectively in English over the phone What happens during a or who may require an interpreter. (Unfortunately patients registered with a GP PhysioCall consultation? practice in Kirkby Malzeard cannot access These patients require a written this service.) An experienced Physiotherapist will call referral from their GP stating that a you if you have booked an appointment translator is required for a telephone consultation. • Patients who require physiotherapy What types of PhysioDirect They will ask you questions regarding for breathing problems such as consultations are there? your problem and advise you regarding COPD will need to be referred by PhysioDirect offers two types of the best evidence based course of their GP or consultant to the consultations with experienced management available to you. respiratory physiotherapy team physiotherapy staff which are: Together with the physiotherapist • Patients who require physiotherapy • PhysioCall: Our telephone consultation you can then decide what the best for neurological problems such as service management plan is for you. Stroke, Parkinsons disease or Multiple Sclerosis will need to be referred by • PhysioContact: Our face to face their GP or consultant to the consultation service neurological physiotherapy team