A new out patient system has been put in place resulting I think in a deterioration of the booking service. 3 years ago I suffered a loss of movement in my neck due to a back problem. This was effectively treated by the excellent staff at Bodmin hospital. A year after that this problem started to recur so I used the outpatient service at Newquay hospital as there was less demand there than at Bodmin and again I received excellent treatment over several weeks. After 2 trouble free years I am again experiencing problems and so contacted Newquay to check the drop in out patient service was still available - I was told that from that very day the service was no longer drop in but required a doctor's referral.
There was some confusion about this at my doctors surgery due to the new measure not being well understood and it is now a week later and I am waiting for the referral letter and for an appointment to be booked, meanwhile my health gets worse. While a few days delay are due to misunderstanding, this new requirement seems ridiculous and all of the health professions I spoke to during this process have criticised the new procedure.
I understand it is to reduce unnecessary demand on the physiotherapy service but how can a requirement for patients to make a GP appointment, wait for a referral letter to get a booking over several days help reduce the workload on the NHS? There is extra work for the GP, GP secretary staff and needless delay in treatment which will surely mean the eventual treatment required is going to be longer and cause extra suffering on the patient.
The drop in physiotherapy was excellent and the morning drop in sessions were followed up by later afternoon appointments if more treatment was needed and this was judged by qualified physiotherapist rather than the GP which is surely better.
If there is a demand for physiotherapy services why not increase those rather than try to reduce demand by putting pressure on other parts of the health service which are already overworked. The health professionals at both Bodmin and Newquay all gave excellent services but the management of the service needs to be looked at carefully and priorities set.
"Physiotherapy outpatient services "
About: Bodmin Community Hospital Bodmin Community Hospital PL31 2QT Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Newquay Hospital / Physiotherapy Newquay Hospital Physiotherapy TR7 1RQ
Posted by Denzill (as ),
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Update posted by Denzill (the patient) 9 years ago