As you may be aware, there is currently a significant waiting list for MSK physiotherapy within NELFT services in Barking and Dagenham and Havering. The CCG has commissioned some additional MSK physiotherapy capacity to assist with clearing this backlog. Following a procurement process, Connect Health Physiotherapy Services, a national MSK provider, will provide short-term physiotherapy services to patients on the current waiting list to help with the recovery and enable timely access to physiotherapy.
Connect Health will offer appointments and provide treatment to around 5,000 patients originally referred to NELFT. Connect Health and NELFT will work together to ensure the safe transfer of all patients on the list.
There is no action required from you with regards to the transfer. This communication is for your awareness only.
Please continue to use the MSK single point of access (SPA) pathways for all new MSK patient referrals.
All new physiotherapy referrals for patients over 16 years should be made to the SPA clinic. This is named on ERS as: Primary Care MSK Team (PCMT) – SPA – Musculoskeletal Therapies – King George Hospital RF4.
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From Monday 23 March 2020, practices should follow the new musculoskeletal (MSK) pathway for adult patients across Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge. The DMC MSK Triage service is no longer operating.
Please continue to use the existing referral form
Physiotherapy issues - referrals should be made to the Primary Care MSK Team (PCMT). For example, this will include patients that were referred to musculoskeletal clinical assessment and treatment service (MCATS) and spinal musculoskeletal assessment service (SMAS) and all therapy referrals for patient over 16 years. It is named on ERS as Primary Care MSK Team (PCMT) – SPA – Musculoskeletal Therapies – King George Hospital RF4
Secondary Care issues, (for example consultant led clinics in orthopaedics, rheumatology, pain or neurosurgery). Referrals should be directed to the MSK Secondary Care SPA. . It is named on ERS as MSK Secondary care SPA (Orthopaedics, Pain, Spine and Rheumatology) – King George Hospital RF4
The PCMT can refer any patients needing onward referral to secondary care consultants and will not need to send the patient back to GPs for this to be done.
The referral services team are based at King George Hospital. Contact details for both services are:
Tel: 020 8970 8384 Email: bhrut.pcmt-spa@nhs.net Hours: 8.30 am to 4.30pm.
Please continue to use your current MSK referral form or the Primary Care MSK Team (PCMT) – SPA. You will find this in the download section on this page.
Development of MSK Referral Form We will be developing a new referral form in partnership with our stakeholders and this will be made available to you in due course. If you or your practice can help us in developing the new referral form, please contact: marie.loizides@nhs.net
Paediatric Services – general MSK We are working with the CCGs to also review MSK paediatric services for patients over 12 years old. Please continue with your current referral methods for paediatrics. We will update you on these developments.
If you have any questions or queries, please contact your PIL as below:
Alternatively you can contact one of the programme leads: Dr Rami Hara (via one of the above named PILs) or Jamil Ahmed (Jamil.Ahmed@nhs.net).