Patients can self refer to physios

Darent Valley Hospital is one of six hospitals in the country which carried out a pilot scheme commissioned by the Department of Health, which allowed patients to self refer to a physio.

The pilot scheme ran from January 2007 to December 2007, but because of its success the hospital continued to allow patients to self refer.

Last week ministers gave their backing to the scheme, which will now be rolled out to all hospitals across the country.

Sue Craven, physio manager at Darent Valley Hospital said: “I fully support the scheme.

“I think that it is a positive step forward in patient care, as it’s allowing patients to decide how they want to be treated.”

She says that the self referral scheme isn’t going to replace GPs, as patients will still be able to see their GP if they wish to.

She said: “This is just another way of accessing physios.

“As well as empowering the patients, another benefit is that it will save GPs time and cut out some of their admin work.”

Ms Craven says that from January 2007 until September this year the hospital has received 128 self referrals.

She said: “It’s not a large amount but it’s more than we were expecting.”

On average the physio department receives 300 referrals a month. Ms Craven said: "About one third of our GP referrals have been self referrals per month."

The hospital takes referrals from patients in its catchment area, which includes Dartford, Gravesend and Swanley.

Patients can self refer by filling out a form and sending it back to the hospital’s physiotherapy department.

The forms can be found online at dvh.nhs.uk/ or at The Forge medical practice in Old Perry Street, Northfleet and Pelham medical practice in Pelham Road, Dartford.

Ms Craven said: “So far there is only two surgeries where people can pick up forms, but in the next few months they will be accessible in more surgeries across Gravesend and Dartford.”

Ms Sharon Penney, of The Crescent, Northfleet has been suffering with pains in her arm for almost 10 years.

She has referred herself twice to a physio at Darent Valley Hospital.

The 57-year-old said: “I think the self referral scheme is a great idea.

“Instead of having to wait months to see someone, which is often the case when you go through your GP, I was able to see someone within a few weeks.

“The last time I went to see a physio they diagnosed me as having severe muscle damage in my right arm, and I was referred to a neurologist.

“I’m due an MRI scan soon.

“I just feel I now have more control over who I choose to see.”

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