Health injection (From Warrington Guardian)

Health injection

DOCTORS' surgeries and medical centres in Warrington are leading the way in a pioneering new system for treating orthopaedic patients, writes Sarah Harker.

The town's Primary Care Trust is one of the first in the country to introduce the revolutionary triage system - which aims to assess patients - in GPs' surgeries rather than the usual hospital setting. Rather than patients automatically joining a waiting list to see a consultant before their treatment can begin, they are instead initially referred to the new triage system through their GP.

There, the highly specialised team assesses the needs of individual patients and ensures they receive the appropriate care.

Kathleen Crompton, a hairdresser, aged 54, from Appleton, has accessed the service twice, once for a problem with her thumb and the other with her arm. She said: "It's a great service. Rather than wait for weeks or months to see a consultant I was seen in about one week."

Carole Hugall, acting assistant director for service delivery at Warrington PCT, said: "We are able to provide all patients with an appointment for assessment within 21 days. Sixty eight per cent are seen within eight to 14 days and some are even seen within seven days. Patients are given a choice of appointment, date and time.

"Many patients have conditions which do not require surgery or the skills of a consultant. We are able to arrange for them to receive the treatment that is most appropriate to their needs, for example, physiotherapy, medication, and podiatry services, within a much shorter timescale than waiting for a consultant outpatient appointment.

"This means that not only do patients see a specialist in their field very quickly, but also that many are able to progress far more quickly to treatment and cure."