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Effect of reducing physiotherapy referrals from care homes on waiting lists through health promotion, physical activity, and falls prevention
Asaju, Oluwadamilola Knight, Sophie
Asaju, Oluwadamilola
Knight, Sophie
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Affiliation
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
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Publication date
2025-05-08
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Abstract
Background
Long waiting lists for appointments within the NHS have been an ongoing issue for some time, and it remains an essential aspect of service improvement. The NHS's long-term plan aims to shift the model of care further upstream with a focus on preventive care, closer integration of services within the community for people with chronic conditions, and reduced outpatient visits by a third.
Aims
• Reduce referrals from care homes by 35% within 6 months.
• Reduce waiting times for referrals by 30% within 6 months.
• Reduce carbon emissions associated with travels by 30% within 6 months.
• Potential financial and time savings of approximately 30% within 6 months.
• Improve quality of life of residents.
Measures
• Total referrals received
• Average waiting time (days)
• Total face-to-face (F2F) visits
• Total mileage
• Total mileage expense claim
• Social impact on staff
• Patient’s quality of life (QOL)
Changes
• In conjunction with Warwickshire County Council, we organised a webinar for social care workers in June 2024 and uploaded this resource onto the Social Care Information and Learning Services (Scils) portal in the same month.
• Alongside the therapy triage clinicians, we developed a new care home referral document in October 2024.
Achievements and results
• Total number of referrals was reduced by 33% and 31% in Stratford and Warwick, respectively.
• Average waiting time was reduced by 33% and 70% in Stratford and Warwick, respectively.
• Total F2F visits was reduced by 54% and 46% in Stratford and Warwick, respectively.
• Total mileage driven was reduced by 61% and 62% in Stratford and Warwick, respectively.
• Total mileage expense claimed was reduced by 61% and 62% in Stratford and Warwick, respectively.
• Carbon savings (0.3386kgCO2e per mile driven): 874 and 1368 in Stratford and Warwick, respectively.
• Financial savings (£144 per appointment): £28,512 and £46,224 in Stratford and Warwick, respectively.
• Time savings (90 mins visit): 297 mins and 482 mins in Stratford and Warwick, respectively.
• Care staff reported improved knowledge, ideas, and skills, increased knowledge of equipment, better understanding of the importance of exercise, and key contact information.
Future considerations and learning
• Collect data for the same months in 2025 to assess if impact has been sustainable.
• Making every contact count
• Provide further learning opportunities for social care workers based on feedback received.
Citation
Asaju O, Knight S. Effect Of Reducing Physiotherapy Referrals from Care Homes on Waiting Lists Through Health Promotion, Physical Activity, And Falls Prevention. Internal poster: South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust; 2025.
Type
Internal Poster