MSK Triage Service
The purposes of the Pan Dorset MSK Triage service are:
- To help patients access the right service , first time.
- To offer patients choice of healthcare provider / location.
Any registered Dorset GP, FCP or Nurse Practitioner can refer patients to the service via NHS E-referrals. Other than for red flag cases, this is the ONLY referral route Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, Spinal Services and Dorset MSK Services.
Please note that referrals for Physiotherapy and Podiatry services should not be made via MSK Triage.
Following submission, the referral will be clinically reviewed within 4 working days, and the patient will be contacted, usually by letter, to offer choice of clinics if an onward referral is required. If appropriate, a clinician may reject the referral back to you with advice.
Onward referral will be offered in line with the national policy on choice for patients and therefore includes referrals to secondary care services outside of Dorset or to the independent sector as well as to the main NHS secondary care hospitals within Dorset
Red Flag Exclusions
Urgent referrals/Red Flag cases are excluded from the MSK Triage service and you should continue to deal with these urgent referrals as per existing procedures
- Cauda Equina syndrome
- Infection
- Neurological compromise (progressive weakness, acute severe weakness)
- Acute conditions / Trauma / Fracture / Diabetic Foot ulcer
- Cancer / suspected malignancy
- Suspected early inflammatory arthritis including suspected axial, non-radiographic spondyloarthropathy
- Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)
Please ensure primary care workup is complete (including referral to Physiotherapy), before making a referral. Inclusion of the following information in your referral will enable the team to triage it appropriately-
- Symptom type, onset and duration
- Symptom severity including objective assessment of weakness and altered sensation.
- Night pain and functional disability.
- Previous treatments tried / services seen (Include copies of clinical correspondence).
- Evidence the referred condition meets locally agreed CBAPs (if appropriate). See https://www.dorsetccg.nhs.uk/ccg/policies/for more information on these.
- Any radiology reports relating to the referred condition.
- BMI calculation within the last 6 months if the patient is likely to need surgical intervention.
- Past medical history.
You should assume the clinical team can only see what is uploaded so ensure you have included previous correspondence and diagnostic reports.
If you are referring to a specific consultant and/or provider, please make this very clear.