Head of therapy services Nikki Mason voices 'delight' at 'innovative' Community Appointment Day
More than 250 patients on physiotherapy waiting lists in the Birmingham and Solihull area attended a Community Appointment Day at the Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre in Kings Heath last month.
As well as having an opportunity to meet physio staff from three local providers – the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and College Green medical practice – the patients also mingled with groups from the voluntary sector. Representatives from Versus Arthritis, Healthwatch, Age UK and public health services were also available to offer support.
Hayley Jennings, a senior physiotherapist at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, said: ‘We invited patients from our physiotherapy waiting lists to visit us and access support, while they wait for their appointment. We tailored resources available on the day to the needs of our local patients waiting for treatment and discussed their musculoskeletal concerns. Therapy colleagues underwent specific personalised care training, to ensure conversations focused on what matters to patients.'
Hailey added: ‘Where necessary, patients were able to get an assessment by a physiotherapist, receive tailored advice in line with what really matters to them, guidance and exercises, and many were signposted to voluntary sector support in the “community hub”, if it was appropriate for them.’
Leisure centres are 'community hubs'
Nikki Mason, a physio by background who is head of therapy services at the ROH, described the approach as ‘new and innovative’. Nikki added: ‘The knowledge gained by all colleagues will also provide support to future patients as they come through for treatment. We were delighted to see so many patients attend, and to hear so much positive feedback about the support they received.’
Robin, a patient who attended the event, spoke to a physiotherapist ‘who really took their time’. Robin added: ‘I’ve downloaded an app and got some exercises to take home that should help, and I feel really good about the whole thing! All in all, a great experience.’
We were delighted to see so many patients attend, and to hear so much positive feedback about the support they received [Nikki Mason]
Talks and presentations were held in a studio at the lesiure centre, where patients could drop in to obtain advice and information from ROH pain management nurses and Versus Arthritis.
Sarah Berne is the national active wellbeing manager for Serco Leisure, which operates Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre. She said: ‘Our leisure centres are community hubs. They are places where people feel welcomed and included, which makes them the ideal venues for initiatives like these, which provide much-needed access to health and wellbeing services for patients awaiting treatment.’
To watch a video and find out more about patients’ experiences of the day, click
Author: Ian A McMillan
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