The Orthopaedic Triage Service (OTS) is a team of advanced practice physiotherapists with expert orthopaedic knowledge and skills. The team are responsible for responding to all ‘advice and refer’ requests made to T&O. We aim for the request to be reviewed and responded to within 10 working days.
The response may include advice on how to treat the condition in the community or conversion to a referral if secondary care is required. Patients who have had a clear work-up for surgery in the community will be triaged directly to the most appropriate consultant clinic.
If the patient requires investigations or non-surgical management, or if it is not made clear on the referral that a surgical opinion is appropriate, then they will be triaged to an OTS clinic. Further assessment and treatment within OTS could include:
- Referral for radiology investigations
- Nerve conduction studies
- Expert patient education and advice
- Steroid injection therapy (including ultrasound-guided if appropriate)
- Referral to other services, such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, orthotics, pain management
- Referral to an orthopaedic consultant for a surgical opinion following a shared decision-making process
Last reviewed: 14 October 2024
