Pioneers in patient care: consultants leading change
North East
Innovation: An integrated shoulder surgery and physiotherapy service
Mr John R Williams
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust
Job title: Consultant orthopaedic surgeon and honorary clinical senior lecturer
Speciality: Trauma and orthopaedic surgery
Since Mr John Williams set up a fully integrated shoulder service, patients in Newcastle with shoulder problems now have access to a surgeon and a physiotherapist at a shoulder clinic within 3-4 weeks of being referred by their family doctor. Previously patients had to wait more than three months.
Mr Williams says: “I linked up with the hospital and primary care physiotherapy services to allow more direct communication between all those treating shoulder patients whatever their background.”
A specialist physiotherapist sees new and follow-up patients in a clinic which enables quicker triage of patients and has substantially brought down waiting times for all shoulder referrals. The physiotherapist also has direct access to book patients into the shoulder clinic for a surgical review of the patient if they feel it is necessary.
“As a result, the community and primary care physiotherapists have direct access to book their patients into my shoulder clinics which reduces the time from referral to being seen and ensures direct communication between the therapist and the surgeon,” says
Mr Williams.
“All shoulder problems from A&E are seen by a consultant with expertise in shoulders and practice has been standardised across the district. This has reduced variations in waiting times and how patients are treated. It also makes it easier to do research and improve patient care. The patients who are often in a lot of pain appreciate the fast referral though the system to a consultant from the therapist.”
The clinic was set up with no extra funding and its success is being measured by analysis of outpatient waiting times. Mr Williams says the increase in government spending on the NHS has had an impact on his hospital but “resources for investigations are tight” and patients sometimes wait longer than is ideal for further investigations following an initial consultation.