NICE shortlists physio-designed NHS rehab programme for learning award

^{Picture are Shaun Roberts, senior physiotherapist; Charlotte Grey, physiotherapy assistant; Gloria Sudbury, physiotherapy assistant; Emma Busby physiotherapy assistant practitioner; Matthew Breeze, physiotherapist}

The OASIS (OsteoArthritis Self-management and Independent-living Support) group rehab programme, launched in 2014, came close to winning a NICE shared learning award at the organisation’s national conference in May.

OASIS was designed by physiotherapy staff at Sir Robert Peel Hospital in Tamworth, Staffordshire and aims to create a cost-effective but high-quality pathway to treat osteoarthritis.

Senior physiotherapist Shaun Roberts said: ‘It’s such a small programme in a community hospital, we thought we would share it with NICE and at the end of their two-day conference we presented it to delegates.’

Despite its small scale, the scheme has achieved sizeable results. An audit from January to December 2016 of 105 patients on the programme showed that more than 70 per cent had better function and 60 per cent had less pain. Another benefit was that six per cent more people attended their appointments.

The service has increased from two to three classes a week. Patients with osteoarthritis attend once a week for an hour. They spend half this time on an exercise circuit with 10 stations. The remainder is devoted to education. Topics include how to grade and pace activities, how to manage pain, and information about osteoarthritis.

Mr Roberts said: ‘The input from our physiotherapy assistants has been great. And they are the people who deliver the classes each week.’

He added that on 12 May his service received a trophy from the trust for OASIS: ‘We were the overall winner in the trust’s Celebrating Excellence awards in the proud to share category.’

Author: Robert Millett