Components of a musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy service rated excellent within an outstanding occupation health service in an acute NHS Trust.

Purpose

This abstract details components of an MSK physiotherapy service rated excellent within an outstanding occupation health service in an acute NHS Trust as rated by the Safe, Effective, Quality Occupational Health Service (SEQOHS).

From Aug 2017-July 2018
20 ergonomic and patient information lectures were delivered to staff in the Trust aimed at prevention and self-management of MSK related disorders.
766
staff self-referred for treatment and patients were seen within 5 working days.

Approach

A combination of data from the Physiotherapy service and SEQOHS evaluation of the Occupational Health service at Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. This accreditation is the formal recognition that an occupational health service provider has demonstrated that it has the competence to deliver against the measures in the SEQOHS standards.

Outcomes

SEQOHS reported:

"This has been an outstanding assessment and is one of the best services we have seen so far. What you have achieved in the last 2-2.5 years is evident. You have a good, strong, robust evidence."


"It is nothing like we have seen before in Occupational Health and Wellbeing. The audit process clearly shows management control and integration, all delivering Occupational Health and Wellbeing"
 

Examples of exceptional practice:

 

  • “The range of information leaflets. They are so engaging and informative”.

 

  • “The training programmes which are delivered by your physiotherapy and clinical psychology teams”

 


From Aug 2017-July 2018 20 ergonomic and patient information lectures were delivered to staff in the Trust aimed at prevention and self-management of MSK related disorders. 766 staff self-referred for treatment and patients were seen within 5 working days.

Cost and savings

The occupational health physiotherapy service employs (Band 7 FT, Band 6 FT).

These costs are offset against the value of assessing and treating 766 staff members and supporting them to remain productive in work whilst managing their musculoskeletal conditions.

Implications

Innovative training and education sessions delivered by occupational health MSK Physiotherapy staff are an excellent way to engage with staff in an acute NHS Trust in order to help prevent and self-manage MSK disorders.

Top three learning points

  1. In-house occupational health physiotherapy is a valuable resource in an Acute Hospital NHS Trust where musculoskeletal conditions are common.
  2. Patient information leaflets are an engaging and valuable resource in occupational health.
  3. Proactively engaging with staff in their work environment rather than waiting for a clinical referral is a productive way of delivering occupational health information to improve health, wellbeing and physical activity levels.

Funding acknowledgements

No funding to declare.

Additional notes

This work was presented at Physiotherapy UK 2019.

The occupational health Lead Physiotherapist was awarded the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust “Clinician Of The Year Award 2019” for their contribution to care in the Trust.

 

Please see the attached Innovations poster below. 

 

For further information about this work please contact John Kent. 

Attachment

0396-PTUK2019 Innovations Poster.pdf