title: Development of a physiotherapy-led balance clinic: the Aintree model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To create a 'one-stop' clinic in which assessment, diagnosis, treatment and therapies for most patients presenting with balance and dizziness disorders are delivered simultaneously.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients triaged via referral letters were selected to attend the balance clinic, which is led by specialist balance physiotherapists. Patients were seen by an audiologist, and a 'balance' ENT consultant was available for joint consultations when required. Further details of the clinic set up are discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over an 18-month period, 200 new 'dizzy' patients attended the clinic. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and labyrinthitis were the commonest diagnoses. Fifty per cent of all patients were discharged after a single clinic visit. Questionnaires showed that patient satisfaction was high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physiotherapy-led balance clinic has reduced patient waiting times to be seen, has a high level of patient satisfaction and is economically beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,Aintree University Hospital,Liverpool,UK.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kasbekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy,Aintree University Hospital,Liverpool,UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mullin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy,Aintree University Hospital,Liverpool,UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,Aintree University Hospital,Liverpool,UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology,Aintree University Hospital,Liverpool,UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,Aintree University Hospital,Liverpool,UK.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lesser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003939:Diagnostic Techniques, Otological; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*