NHS Lanarkshire’s Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy Team recently held two innovative Community Appointment Days (CADs) to give patients referred to the MSK Physiotherapy waiting list the support to manage their own condition.
The events were held at Wishaw Sports Centre and 460 people attended across both days. People had the opportunity to chat to staff about their conditions and what matters most to them, receive an assessment, diagnosis and rehabilitation or advice.
They could also visit information stalls from 14 partner organisations, including leisure, pharmacy, podiatry and Community Link Workers.
Brian Slattery, Acting Physiotherapy Musculoskeletal Strategy Lead, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “This was the third set of our Community Appointment Days and the feedback we received from patients has been really positive.
“On the day, patients had a ‘What Matters Most to You’ conversation and then visited the most appropriate area for either assessment, rehab and advice, or a combination. Patients were then guided to the partners’ zone for any further support or guidance.
“They were then either discharged from the service – with the option to self-refer back at any time – given information to make another appointment if their condition doesn’t improve as expected within six months, or given a follow-up appointment.
“So far, we have seen a total of 1281 people across all the CADs. I would like to thank the staff and partners involved in organising such a successful event, and to everyone who came along.”
Susan Sutherland, from Holytown, said: “I was a bit skeptical about coming along as I thought I would have to wait for a long time as there would be so many people attending.
“But I was checked-in, had an assessment on my sore foot and given an exercise plan all within 40 minutes. It was a really positive experience and a great idea to see and treat lots of patients.”
The feedback from the events will be used in the planning of future physiotherapy CADs, which will take place in other areas of Lanarkshire in the coming months.
