Improved access and targeting of musculoskeletal services in northwest Wales: targeted early access to musculoskeletal services (TEAMS) programme.
OBJECTIVE
The hospital based musculoskeletal service in northwest Wales was unable to cope with the demand for referrals from general practitioners. Waiting times were long, duplicate referrals to other departments were common, and general practitioners were reluctant to refer patients with common problems because of the perceived lack of service. Many referrals were made to the inappropriate specialty, especially orthopaedics. At least part of this problem was due to a lack of coordination between the four hospital departments providing musculoskeletal services and the emphasis on district general hospital based rather than community provision.


METHODS
Review over 18 months of impact of the targeted early access to musculoskeletal services (TEAMS) programme on accessibility to musculoskeletal services.


METHODS
Northwest Wales.


METHODS
Number of patients referred and seen with musculoskeletal problems, waiting times, number of duplicate referrals, and surgery conversion rates in orthopaedic clinics.


METHODS
Establishing with central clinical triage a common pathway for all musculoskeletal referrals so that patients attend the appropriate department. A back pain pathway led by extended scope physiotherapists was developed, and general practitioners with special interests and extended scope physiotherapists were trained to provide services for patients with uncomplicated musculoskeletal problems in the community.


RESULTS
Over 18 months the number of referrals more than doubled. Despite this, waiting times for musculoskeletal services fell; this was noticeable for rheumatology and pain management. Duplicate referrals were abolished. Surgery conversion rates did not, however, change. Questionnaires from the clinics showed a high level of patient satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Integration of hospital services that traditionally have worked in isolation can result in greatly improved access to musculoskeletal services. Community based multidisciplinary clinics run by specially trained general practitioners with special interests and extended scope physiotherapists are an effective way of managing patients with uncomplicated musculoskeletal problems and have been well received by patients and general practitioners. The huge unmet burden of need was reflected by the great increase in musculoskeletal referrals. Other approaches are needed to meet this, including better education of general practitioners and methods for identifying and modifying psychosocial risk factors for chronic pain at an early stage.
Maddison
Peter
P
North West Wales NHS Trust, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor LL57 2PW, Wales. peter.maddison@nww-tr.wales.nhs.uk
Jones
Jeremy
J
Breslin
Anne
A
Barton
Craig
C
Fleur
Joyce
J
Lewis
Rhian
R
McSweeney
Luke
L
Norgain
Carys
C
Smith
Sara
S
Thomas
Carolyn
C
Tillson
Chris
C
D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014852:Wales