Lower Back Treatment in Worc NHS

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust did not have the information requested.

Dear Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust,

I am intersted to know what percentage of new GP referrals patients with lower back pain are referred onto physio without being physically assessed by a hospital doctor. If possible I would like this information broken down by hospital for the last three years.

Does the trust, or any of its hospitals, operate a minumum waiting times for physio or pain managemnet

Yours faithfully,

J Manskill

Dear Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust,

Can you confirm when you are likely to respond to my request for information relating to the number/percentage of GP referrals relating to lower back pain that are referred by you to physio without being examined by a pain pain doctor.

Yours faithfully,

Jane Manskill

Dear Ms Manskill

Many apologies - I have been on leave and I believed that a colleague had sought further clarification regarding your FOI request, as follows

As independent practitioners Physiotherapists are able to manage patients without prior examination by a doctor. In fact that was the Government's intention when they introduced self referral by the public directly to Physiotherapy.

If a GP makes a referral to Physiotherapy then there would be no necessity to refer the patient to a hospital doctor for assessment. The Physio would accept the referral, assess the patient and treat appropriately. If they had any concerns re non musculoskeletal pathology or they felt the patient required further investigation they would liaise with the GP.

Extended Scope Practitioner Physiotherapists also run specialist back pain clinics at Kidderminster and the Alex where they may refer to Physio or may order investigations or refer on to a spinal surgeon or pain clinic. Is this the service that they are enquiring about rather than ordinary Physiotherapy?

Could you please provide further clarification. Again I apologise for the delays you have experienced.

Linda Wix
PA to Chairman & Trust Secretary
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
DD 01562 512309
x53329

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Dear Ms Wix

Thank you for your email requesting clarification. I am interested in the percentage of people referred to specialist back pain clinics by a GP but who are then referred onto Physiotherapy without being assessed by the back pain clinc staff

Yours sincerely,

Jane Manskill

Dear FOI, WAHT,

Just wondered when you might have teh information I requested in Sept

Yours sincerely,

Jane Manskill

Dear FOI, WAHT,

I wrote to your several months ago asking for information about the percentage of patients who having been referred by a GP to the back clinic where then referred by the hospital without consultation for physio.

If you are unable to provide the information, can you please let me know why and treat this as a request for an internal review.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Manskill

Dear Ms Manskill

I requested further clarification regarding your FOI which I do not believe was received and is not included in the Email trail below?

Linda Wix
PA to Harry Turner & Trust Secretary
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
DD 01905 733962
x30879

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Dear FOI, WAHT,

Thanks for you email. As your request for further information is not in this email I think it is safe to assume that I didn't receive it.

My request is simple - what percentage of patients refered by their GP to back care clinc does the hospital send to pyshio without any clinical examination.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Manskill

1 Attachment

Dear Miss Manskill

Please find attached the Trust's response to your FOI request.

Linda Wix
PA to Harry Turner & Trust Secretary
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
DD 01905 733962
x30879

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