NHS Direct-style project cuts referrals
A new telephone hotline enabling patients to speak directly to a
physiotherapist rather than wait for a GP referral is being piloted in
Derbyshire.
Based on the overwhelmingly successful NHS Direct, the 10-month old
Physio Direct has found that 40% of patients are able to receive the help
they need over the phone and do not need a physiotherapy appointment.
Physio Direct is backed up by Ethitec’s Tiara9, an electronic patient
record system that automatically manages the administrative paperwork
generated by the service.
“Patient feedback has been very positive and the GPs involved in the
pilot are pleased with the results so far”, said Trish Bailey, Senior
Physiotherapist leading Physio Direct.
The service will continue to be delivered to local patients, with plans
to rollout the service to a wider area in the future.
Source: bjhc&im May 2005
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