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Orthotics care

Posted By GordonE1234

"Orthotics care"

About: Glasgow Royal Infirmary / Orthotics

(as a service user),

I have been a patient of the NHS GGC Orthotics Service for many years due to cramping in my foot associated with neurological symptoms. I returned to them this year and received an appt in less than six weeks. The appt was a virtual triage appt which recommended a face to face appt at the Glasgow Royal Infrimary, which went very well. I received a full biomechanical assessment and recommended a new insole for my cramping which has helped along with recommending strengthening exercises for my calf which I am arranging privately through some short-term physiotherapy. 

I would recommend that the virtual triage appt is scrapped though given I have been a patient for many years and my symptoms were the same and the most straightforward action would be to arrange a direct face to face appt and this would have meant one appt for me instead of two and means newly-referred patients who are not known to the orthotics clinic receive the right care in the right place at the right time to make sure the clinic is right for them and will likely free up more time for patients.

The orthotist who triaged me along with the orthotist who treated me were great, very helpful, and kind and it was a pleasure to deal with them.

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Responses

Response from Nikki Munro, Orthotic Clinical Lead/Manager, Orthotic Department, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 8 months ago
Nikki Munro
Orthotic Clinical Lead/Manager, Orthotic Department,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 30/08/2024 at 10:14
Published on Care Opinion at 10:41

Hi Gordon,

Thank you for taking the time to post your opinion, we find all forms of feedback helpful, particularly from those who are long term users of our service.

I am pleased that your overall experience on this occasion was positive and that we were able to improve your symptoms with a new course of treatment and I hope this goes well.

I will pass on your positive comments to the staff working in both our triage team and at Glasgow Royal Infirmary as they will get a real boost from knowing their actions have helped you.

Regarding virtual triage, this is not something which we routinely offer to all patients as a first step in our appointment process. We don't often offer virtual appointments to newly referred patients as, as you say, we really need to see people face to face and examine them to ensure we get their treatment right first time.

The reason you were offered a virtual appointment first, is that when we triage our patients, we often find our longstanding patients simply require a repeat prescription of a previous device, and if we can offer this assessment virtually it can mean a reduced wait for an appointment and save travelling to a hospital unnecessarily. I'm sorry in your case this was not successful as clearly a change in prescription was needed.

Again, this is still good learning for us and I will pass this along to our triage team.

many thanks

Nikki

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