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Physio Direct

Self-referral access to physiotherapy for assessment of a single joint or problem, providing advice, exercise and self-management.

A person holding the knee joint
NHS Number:

Physiotherapy

What is Physio Direct?

  • A self-referral service
  • A single joint problem service if you have 2 or more problems, please ask your GP to refer you directly into physiotherapy.
  • Assessment and triage of your problem with a senior physiotherapist.
  • An initial telephone consultation to assess and provide advice, exercises and management for your joint pain.
  • Together we can then decide if you feel able to self-manage your condition or if you need to be placed on the waiting list for further input from the physiotherapy service.

What will be offered in physio direct?

  • Physiotherapy call service: a telephone consultation for up to 30 minutes with a senior physiotherapist.
Please note that we are unable to give or discuss any results from investigations that you may have had. The results need to be discussed with the health care professional that requested them first.

How to access the self-referral Physio Direct service:

The Physio Direct telephone line is open between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays 01609 763747

• Please have your NHS number ready
• A member of our administrative team will take the call.

Who is not eligible for physio direct?

  • Under 16 years of age.
    Please ask your GP to refer directly to the physiotherapy service

  • Patients already seeing a hospital consultant for their problem
    Please ask your consultant to refer you to the physiotherapy team.

  • Patients requiring treatment for:
    – Multiple joint problems
    – COPD or respiratory conditions
    – MS, Parkinsons or other neurological conditions
    – Walking aid assessment or mobility problems

    Please ask your GP to refer you directly to the physiotherapy service

  • Patients requiring obstetric or gynaecology physiotherapy

    Please ask your GP or midwife to refer you to the women’s health physiotherapist.

What If I Have Lower Back Pain?

  • All back pain patients are treated via the North of England Back Pain Pathway, which a GP refers you to.
  • We cannot refer back pain patients for physiotherapy or into the North of England back pain pathway via physio direct.
  1. Please follow the guidance on back pain
  2. If following this guidance has not helped your lower back pain then please consult your GP about your symptoms.
  3. If you have already consulted your GP then return to the GP and ask for a referral to the North of England Back Pain pathway

Patient experience

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.

This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.

To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.

T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]

The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW.
Telephone: 01642 850850
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