Introduction

This service provides a specialist musculoskeletal assessment to determine the patients most appropriate management route. The assessment is undertaken by experienced and specially trained Physiotherapists who work with an extended role. The referring GP provides medical support.

Aims of Service

• To assess and advise patients who have spinal, hip, knee, shoulder, hand or elbow conditions.

• To identify or exclude serious pathology.

• To identify patients who are appropriate for surgical intervention.

• To arrange relevant investigations where necessary (MRI, X-ray, nerve conduction studies)

• To identify patients who require assessment by other services or specialties (e.g., Pain Clinic, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, Physiotherapy, Orthotics, Podiatry, Occupational Therapy)

Contact Details

Referrals can be made by a GP via Choose and Book

www.glos.nhs.uk/chooseandbook

Our Staff

The service is managed by Orthopaedic Practitioners in both the West and East of the county. Physiotherapists working with an extended scope of practice known as Orthopaedic Practitioners work in various clinics across the county. The Orthopaedic Practitioners are experienced Chartered Physiotherapists who have received specialist training alongside the Orthopaedic Consultant Teams. They will assess the patients problem and make recommendations and decisions regarding the most appropriate management or treatment for the problem. If necessary they will request appropriate investigations (e.g. x-rays and MRI scans) or refer to a consultant for anther opinion or surgery. The service is supported by a valuable team of clerical staff.

• OPS: A guide for Patients leaflet
  

• List of Practitioners

Referral Guidelines

For information about referral guidelines into the Orthopaedic Practitioner Service please click on the link below:

www.gloshospitals.org.uk/chooseandbook or www.glos.nhs.uk/chooseandbook

Waiting Times