Don’t allow the pandemic to delay your physio treatment and let an injury turn into something more serious!
We would like to warn everyone about the dangers of a long-term health problem affecting the region, with waiting lists on the NHS at record lengths and GP surgeries under increasing pressure.
Have you experienced NHS treatment delays for physiotherapy, or been put off getting physio treatment because of the long wait-time ahead? Our advice would be not to allow an injury that you think might just be a ‘trivial matter’ now, whether it be a big or small injury, turn into something serious by not getting help.
We were horrified to hear one of our patients tell us earlier this week, that before coming to see us they were referred to a pharmacist for a medical assessment.
Paul Gough said: “We have had experience of one patient actually being told to visit a pharmacist for assessment for a frozen shoulder after calling 111. Patient assessment is most certainly not the job of a pharmacist.
“But that is the sad situation we are in right now and I can’t emphasise the importance of seeking out the correct diagnosis and treatment.
“We really do sympathise with the Government and the current situation, but this needs to be brought to attention. We all saw the headlines last week about record numbers of patients on hospital waiting lists and this problem isn’t going to disappear quickly.
“Delays now with assessments and real treatment – and I am not talking being told to take painkillers here in the hope the issue will just go away – will cause long-term problems for a generation.”
We have clinics in Hartlepool, Darlington, Guisborough and Durham and appointment schedules are filling up quickly as people turn to private practices for treatment to ensure their problems can be solved quicker than waiting for NHS diagnosis.
As the health service focused on the pandemic, the danger of common injuries being forgotten about is real. Nearly 388,000 people are recorded as waiting more than a year for non-urgent surgery, compared with just 1,600 before the pandemic began.
A new full-time physiotherapist has joined our existing, amazing team, and is working across our 4 clinics to cope with demand. Paul added: “We are talking about life-limiting injuries and issues.
“A stiff ankle or knee injury can lead to the onset of arthritis. Back pain not being treated will lead to long-term issues with posture.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that what may seem like a trivial matter, that ankle sprain you suffered while out walking or running, can lead to a bigger problem.
“With long waiting lists and GP surgeries being held virtually or over the phone, we are open and treating patients and their problems directly. All our staff have been vaccinated, and there’s Covid-secure measures we all follow.”
“We all read the stories over the weekend about years of backlog for essential services and surgeries in the NHS and more and more people are coming to us to have their problems eased and resolved.
Clinic Update: We are here for you!
We are busier than ever as people put their faith in private practices.
All of our staff have received their vaccine (read our vaccination blog post here), and we also have a fantastic, new, full-time physiotherapist working across our 4 clinics (read our blog post here all about Shawni).
Appointments remain limited and we are experiencing an exceptionally high demand for our physio services since UK restrictions were lifted, so please contact us immediately to avoid a long wait.
If you’d like some help, please click here to complete our enquiry form or CALL us on 01429 866771.
P.S. This article has been featured in the news:
NEConnected – Click here to read ‘Don’t allow the pandemic to affect your treatment, says leading physio’.
Teesside Live – Click here to read ‘Physio’s warning over long-term injuries after being ‘horrified’ when patient was sent to pharmacist’.
You might know Paul as an expert Columnist who writes weekly health articles for TWO of the North East's biggest daily Newspapers, The Northern Echo And The Hartlepool Mail, he is a regular Speaker at Industry Seminars around the globe and a Radio Personality, often heard on the BBC. Paul has been an expert guest on dozens of Radio shows and regularly interviewed in newspapers, magazines and trade journals all over the world, including the Guardian.
Paul’s background included working extensively in the Premier League with a Top Professional Football Team, and since quitting his job in Professional Football in 2007, his Physio Practice has become the fastest growing in the UK and biggest in the North East. So successful, that companies like BUPA, ASDA, The Vela Group And Coast & Country, repeatedly retain his Physio company's services to keep healthy their own staff and workforce. Paul Gough Physio Rooms is now a large multi-physio, multi clinic speciality practice in Darlington, Durham, Guisborough and Hartlepool.
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