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Physiotherapy - Musculoskeletal Service

The Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service's aim is to provide high quality patient-centred care within Community Health Newham. Assessments and treatments are evidence based with the patient kept at the centre of decision making. Appropriate consideration is given to cost effective management in order to ensure equality of service provision irrespective of socioeconomic, ethnic or cultural considerations.

Patients are provided with timely assessment and treatment in order to aid them to fulfil their realistic health goals. We also work closely with all referring agencies in order to fulfil the best outcome for all patients passing through the MSK Pathway. We undertake and audit patient satisfaction and clinical outcome measures in order determine our success and identify further challenges and always strive to improve.

The current clinical team structure is composed of an MSK Team Lead / Advanced Physiotherapist Band 8b and three Advanced Physiotherapists Band 8a, two Physiotherapists, three Static Band 6 Physiotherapists, five Static band 5 physiotherapists and one Rotational Band 5 Physiotherapist.

Within this team structure all team members are static musculoskeletal (MSK) specialists with the exception of 1 Rotational Band 5 physiotherapist who is part of the wider Trust rotation scheme across Community Health Newham.

The clinical team have appropriate state registration and enhanced DBS certificates. All staff members are required to maintain professional standards through continuous professional development.

The MSK service operates the Single Point of Access (Booking Service) managed by team of administrative and clerical staff.

  • Service Lead: Mark Harrison, Lead Therapist and Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner
  • Senior Manager: Joanna Raphael, Interim Deputy Director
Female black Physiotherapist walking with asian male who is on crutches in the street
Address

Main site:
29 Romford Road
London
E15 4LY
United Kingdom

Satellite Clinics (Orthopaedic Triage service):
Appleby Health Centre
London
E16 1LQ
United Kingdom

Opening hours
Monday: 08:30 - 19:00
Tuesday: 8:30 - 19:00
Wednesday: 8:30 - 16:30
Thursday: 8:30-19:00
Friday: 08:30 - 16:30
Saturday: Clinics 09:00 - 13:00
Sundays and Bank Holidays: Closed
Telephone number
020 3819 4999

All referrals are clinically screened. Patients are then booked for appointments with a physiotherapist and the appropriate treatment modality is agreed with them. We offer assessment, diagnosis and treatment of MSK conditions including education, advice and exercises to maintain progress and to prevent reoccurrence of symptoms. This may include:

  • Face to Face assessment and treatment
  • Telephone and or Video consultation
  • Manual Therapies
  • Electrotherapies
  • Group exercise, with rehabilitation options
  • Exercises to improve strength, mobility and proprioception
  • Acupuncture
  • Orthopaedic Triage Service, which comprises; Diagnostic radiology, Injection therapy, Direct onward referral to other specialties and MDT liaison.

The Advanced Physiotherapists provide the Orthopaedic Triage service. They also have a role to support the other specialist MSK Physiotherapists in clinical supervision and provision of in-service training. We also have productive relationships with local Consultants, GPs and Community links to local health schemes.

Adult patients (>18 years old) registered to a Newham Health Locality GP and with a musculoskeletal condition appropriate for physiotherapy (e.g. not requiring secondary care intervention) may be referred to the service.

1. Direct referral from GP’s:

  • Ensures better quality of referral in order to aid appropriate screening of patients.

2. Self-referral by patients:

  • Allows patients to access the Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service without needing to utilise unnecessary GP appointments. Physiotherapy staff contact GP’s if further medical information is required.

All GP and Consultant referrals (Out of Borough via the GP) written on an approved referral form with the fullest possible information in order to facilitate screening. Where an approved referral form is not available a letter will be accepted so long as appropriate GP, patient and clinical details are included. These referrals are sent via the Single Point of Access (SPA) team. Self-referral forms can be accessed either directly from Stratford Physiotherapy Centre or a patient’s own Newham locality GP. The MSK Physiotherapy Service operates a clinical screening and prioritisation process with all referrals. All new referrals are screened daily by a physiotherapist and will be allocated to the appropriate service or other departments dependent on the information within the referral. All referrals are allocated urgent or routine status for appointments dependent on the information for the referral.

All first and follow-up appointments for patients referred by Newham GPs’ and self-referral will be booked by the SPA team on the EMIS booking and notation system.

Following first assessment the patient will be given advice and a plan of treatment for their problems. On completion of an episode of care the patient will be discharged with information regarding their self-management to optimise outcome.

To work with us, please visit our job vacancies page.