Rightpath Version 1 - 22 12 15
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Paediatric Musculoskeletal (MSK) Triage in the Community – Rightpath – A pilot study.
IRAS ID
184357
Contact name
Helen E Foster
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South tyneside NHS foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
This is a joint project between Pennine MSK Partnership and Newcastle University, in collaboration with colleagues in Manchester Children’s Hospital, Great North Children’s Hospital, South Shields General Hospital, community services, primary care and CCGs.
Currently, there is no single pathway for children and young people (CYP) referral, with GPs faced with a choice of where to refer including physiotherapy, podiatry, rheumatology, orthopaedics or general paediatrics. This can then lead to both unnecessary referrals, dis-satisfaction with services, waste and delayed diagnosis, potentially leading to poor prognosis. In adult medicine, models of care do currently exist where patients can self refer to physiotherapy services. There are many models of adult MSK triage improving the care and efficiency of service pathways for patients, but this successful model has not yet been replicated for children.
We propose a community-based service (called Rightpath) with a new innovative intervention for CYP with MSK problems, involving triage by teams in primary care, with triage and referral guidance developed in partnership with specialists. The aim of Rightpath is to identify CYP with MSK pathology and signpost them to the appropriate service (whether in rheumatology, orthopaedics or neurodisability or red flag conditions); and for those CYP who don't need specialist referral, these will be managed within primary care. The primary care teams performing the triage will engage in a programme of targeted education as part of Righpath.The project is funded by Oldham CCG and includes funding to evaluate the impact of the intervention. The evaluation elements of the project will be led by Newcastle University.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
16/NI/0044
Date of REC Opinion
21 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion