Physio Appointment via phone call!

[Deleted User]

Covid has meant that I am STILL unable to get a hospital physio appointment other that via a phone call. 
How on earth can I be assessed via a phone call?
I thought that in person hospital appointments were now supposed to be available? 

[Deleted User]

Deleted_User said: 

How on earth can I be assessed via a phone call?

They'll typically ask you to perform certain movements, gauge the level of pain and suggest rehab exercises.

I_Love_comps

Some appointments are also via video link 

TBagpuss

Deleted_User said:

Covid has meant that I am STILL unable to get a hospital physio appointment other that via a phone call. 
How on earth can I be assessed via a phone call?
I thought that in person hospital appointments were now supposed to be available? 

I would imagine that they can do an initial assessment by phone by asking you about your symptoms, asking you to perform certain actions etc - they may then be able to give you exercises to carry out or may decide that you need an in-person appointment.
I wouldn't assume that they can't asses you over the phone until you've had the appointment  - presumably they have got a fair but of experience in doing them that way, now, so are likely able to gauge whether or not they also need to see you in person. 

2childmum2

My initial assessment, pre-Covid, was over the phone, and they then offered me in person appointments.  After a couple of these Covid struck and I had several  more phone appointments last year - totally useless as I was concerned that I wasn't doing the exercises correctly and I was in more pain than when I started - in the end I made an appointment with a private physio (I'm aware that I am fortunate enough to be able to do this) and then told my nhs physio (over the phone) what I had done and what the private physio said .  They then offered me an in - person appointment after which they referred me for some more treatment. 
I do think a  physio need to actually see you move in order to assess what is wrong, and then make sure you are doing the exercises correctly.  They are supposed to be doing in person appointments now, but my experience is that some departments seem to still be in hiding.  I was referred to a cardiologist last year, who has never seen me, but has decided there is nothing wrong despite me still suffering symptoms.

parcival

I think a lot of the NHS is in hiding. It's about time they started routinely offering face to face, after all many of them and us have been jabbed. 

sheramber

I t may depend on what facilities are available. A room and equipment has to be thoroughly cleaned between patients. if there is only one room available that severely limits how many people can be seen
You may have been vaccinated and the physio may have been vaccinated butt he patient after you may not have been.
Obviously, they can deal with more people by using telephone assessments .
Like your GP, if they feel a face to face appointment is needed that can be arranged

parcival

Our GP service has many rooms for doctors / nurses but it would be easier to break into Alcatraz than get inside the surgery.

[Deleted User]

parcival said:

I think a lot of the NHS is in hiding. It's about time they started routinely offering face to face, after all many of them and us have been jabbed. 

parcival said:

I think a lot of the NHS is in hiding. It's about time they started routinely offering face to face, after all many of them and us have been jabbed. 

I've had both jabs !

Thrugelmir

parcival said:

Our GP service has many rooms for doctors / nurses but it would be easier to break into Alcatraz than get inside the surgery.

Not the number that matters. It's the cleansing between patients and there's a backlog to be caught up with.. My normal dental check up of last August finally happened in March.  Anyway of processing more patients the better. Resources will always be finite. As there are only so many working hours in a day. 

wazza99

My local physio saw me in person for all 16 sessions........but it was on Bupa, tho he is part of a private service so would do the same even if none Bupa, my son however had NHS physio and was never once seen in person over the same period.