A NEW self-help website and self-referral service for patients needing physiotherapy has been launched in South Worcestershire.
The Move to Improve site is run by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust which provides physiotherapy services across the county.
It provides a range of tips and advice to help people manage common problems like back and shoulder pain more effectively by themselves.
Then, if they still require support from a physiotherapist they can, for the first time ever in this area, self-refer online without needing an appointment with a GP to refer them to physiotherapy.
The aim is to support people to access the appropriate level of help and support as quickly as possible and make accessing care easy and efficient.
Gordon Smith, one of the physiotherapy team leaders for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “Aches and pains are a very normal part of life, however they can prevent you from carrying out your usual day-to-day activities and can understandably make you feel worried and frustrated.
“The good news is that most of the conditions that cause these aches and pains can be readily treated by you, at home.
“Move to Improve provides advice and information from the Trust’s clinicians to help you do this.
“If you still require more support our new self-referral system means you can get all the help you need very easily and quickly.”
The new self-referral service is available for residents across South Worcestershire, which includes Evesham, Pershore, Malvern, Tenbury, Droitwich, Worcester and Upton.
Self-referral forms should be completed online at www.hacw.nhs.uk/movetoimprove or alternatively paper forms are available from relevant GP surgeries or the physiotherapy departments.
People can also get regular tips and guidance on Twitter (@MovetoImprove_) and find out what else is happening in the local physiotherapy service.
