Community appointment days offer comprehensive physiotherapy support for patients
16 April 2025
Patients who need physiotherapy and podiatry as part of their treatment or rehabilitation can now attend community appointment days which provide a broader range of support than a traditional one-to-one appointment.
The community days, established by the Musculoskeletal (MSK) PhysioWorks team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, were initially run as part of a clinical effectiveness trial and were such a success that they will now become a regular service.
The days enable patients not only to have their specific condition treated, but to access a broader range of support that can help them in their recovery.
Working in collaboration with the National Centre for Sports Science and Exercise, they are held in community leisure centres. A full clinical skill mix including advanced practitioners, physiotherapists and podiatrists is available, and if required patients can be referred for investigations such as an x-ray or scan. Patients can spend as much time as they like at the day and there is the opportunity to speak to other community and charity support services.
The three days held so far, at Concord and Graves leisure centres, have been attended by more than 450 people in total.
Patient Miss Wrigley, 46, of Sheffield, said: “I found it really helpful because I was not only able to get help for the foot problem I was referred with but also with two other problems – tennis elbow and a knee problem – on the same day.
“That joined-up approach was brilliant and time effective because otherwise I would have had to have two separate appointments for each of the other problems. I have a five and an eight year-old to look after so that was really valuable for me.
“I was there for about two hours and had a review with the podiatrist, who was then able to liaise with a physio and give me some strength and mobility exercises. I also saw a physio for the additional problems, and they were able to give me some exercises and refer me to further support.
“To have that immediate access to expertise and knowledge and go away with a clear action plan on the day was fantastic.”
Garry Cooper, 46, of Sheffield, said: “I definitely found it useful, everybody was very friendly and helpful and you got seen straight away, there was no waiting like you sometimes have at a one-to-one appointment.
“I have a rotator cuff (shoulder) injury, so I was able to see a physio and be given some exercises and was booked in for a further one-on-one appointment to follow up. I was only there for about half an hour, so it was very efficient.”
Katie Kozlowski, Clinical Services Manager, said: “Rather than a traditional one-to-one physio appointment, which might be focussed on one specific problem and be limited by time, this model enables patients to access more holistic care which can help to address not only the immediate symptom but to seek advice and treatment for broader health needs which may assist in their recovery.
“We can ask patients ‘what matters to you?’ and put in place a more personalised plan rather than simply a follow up appointment. The removal of time constraints and access to a wide range of clinicians ensures the patient is seen by the right clinician at the right time and is valuable for patients who may have complex needs or multiple conditions. It can also remove some of the barriers people may face in accessing additional support or services.”
The sessions so far have also reduced patient waiting times within the MSK physio service by a week for each event.
The community appointment days are in addition to on-to-one appointments and patients are given a choice as to which they would prefer.
It is planned that they will now run on a monthly basis.
Photo 1: The MSK team at the community appointment day
Photo 2: Patient Gary Cooper (centre) with members of the team
.png)