Surrey Heath - Information for GPs

Referrals can be made via a number of methods. Please send a completed referral form via email (ascenti.referral@nhs.net) from a registered Surrey Heath GP. 

Alternatively, you can refer via ERS, our physiotherapy services are available under the following names:

• SURREY HEATH COMMUNITY PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICE - FRIMLEY– NL53H
• SURREY HEATH COMMUNITY PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICE - BAGSHOT– NL53G
• SURREY HEATH COMMUNITY PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICE - CAMBERLEY– NL53J

**Please note this service is NOT directly bookable. Patients should be given paperwork following their consultations and the patient is responsible for calling Ascenti to book their initial appointment. Please ensure patients are aware of this to avoid any delays in their treatment

You may also refer for a senior physiotherapy review with a senior clinician, this service is available via Community Physiotherapy ESP Clinic – The Bartlett Group Practice.

We are able to complete injections and refer into Upper Gordon Road Advanced MSK & Pain Service for diagnostic uncertainty. Please note Ascenti are unable to refer into the Pain Service.  
 

From the receipt of referral:

Urgent: 10 working days

Routine: 28 working days

Urgent Criteria (patients must present with at least one of the below)

• Patient in significant pain despite taking strong analgesics and early access to treatment is considered likely to provide rapid relief
• Severe sleep disturbance or psychological morbidity due to condition
• Clinical condition likely to significantly and quickly deteriorate without intervention
• Severe impairment of activities of daily living
• The condition is preventing work/employment
• Acute antenatal and postnatal conditions
• A carer who is unable to care due to a presenting musculoskeletal condition 
• Patients whose mobility has deteriorated suddenly and who are at risk of hospital admission 

Acceptance criteria 

• Patients will be referred with one or more of the following: 
• Neck and back problems (whiplash, sciatica, chronic back pain)
• Mechanical upper limb pain
• Mechanical lower limb pain
• Sports injuries 
• Osteoarthritis 
• Inflammatory arthritis as part of a treatment plan from general practice
• Women’s health MSK problems related specifically to pregnancy and childbirth (all classed as urgent)

Exclusion criteria

• Not registered with an eligible GP practice 
• Requiring emergency treatment 
• Condition unlikely to benefit from conservative physiotherapy management 
• Previously not responded to physiotherapy treatment for the same presenting condition unless there are good indications that further treatment will provide improved outcomes – consider referral to Community Pain and MSK Service 
• Patients who require diagnostic investigations which should be completed prior to referral 
• Suspected serious pathology or red flag symptoms 
• Children under 10 years of age 
• Housebound patients
• Palliative care rehabilitation
• Patients who have neurological conditions requiring physiotherapy
• Post-operative physiotherapy
• Patients requiring ultrasound guided injections
• Patients requesting to have procedures that are not routinely funded by the NHS in accordance with current CCG list of excluded treatments – of note to this service: - Acupuncture and spinal injection

• Injections provided in the community (see process below)
• Referrals via NHS.net email initially before moving to directly bookable e-RS in April 2018.
• The Keele STarT Back Screening tool will be carried out with all referrals for low back pain to stratify into low, medium and high-risk categories to determine the patient’s treatment programme. This will be completed by Ascenti.
• Services will be delivered from the clinics outlined below.  However, patients will be able to receive their treatment in whichever location is most convenient for them regardless of which practice they are registered with.
• Patients are a key participant in their treatment programme; treatment will be personalized to the patients’ needs with them remaining the driving force of their own recovery.
   

• Any non-ultrasound guided injections that previously were referred into SHORTTS should now be referred into Community Physiotherapy.
• All patients potentially requiring an injection will be fully assessed by an Extended Scope Practitioner to ensure they have received the correct management prior to the injection and so the best outcomes are achieved.  
• An injection will only be administered provided there are no contraindications, there is clinical justification and it does not fall within the CCGs Procedures of Limited Clinical Effectiveness.
• Following injection, a robust management programme will be devised including, where required, further 1:1 physiotherapy, group exercise rehabilitation, self-management advice/education and signposting to local services.

If you do not wish for a patient to receive an injection by Ascenti this must be indicated on the referral form (tick box to show no authority to inject), if this is not ticked Ascenti will treat autonomously. 
 

The Integral Life Centre, 44 High Street, Bagshot, GU19 5AZ 
Disability Initiative Resource Centre/Knoll Rd, Camberley GU15 3SY
Basepoint Business Centre 377-399 London Rd, Camberley GU15 3HL
Frimley Green Medical Centre (Bartlett Group Practice) 1 Beech Rd, Frimley Green, Camberley GU16 6QQ

Ascenti works closely with The Advanced MSK & Diagnostic Service to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time. Following physiotherapy, Ascenti has the ability to refer directly to the Advanced MSK & Diagnostic Service. We are not able to refer to the Pain Service, this is only accessible via a GP referral. 

Prior to referring patients to The Advanced MSK & Diagnostic Service all patients will be seen by a senior clinician. They may choose to refer a patient to the Advanced MSK team for a number of reasons, including ultrasound-guided injections.

For more information on the service please visit their website.