Dr Sarah Louise Mitchell, Dr Jacqui Lunday, Mrs Catherine Willis
1HNZ – Hauora a Toi, Tauranga, Aotearoa / New Zealand
Biography:
I have been the Chief Allied Health Scientific and Technical Officer in Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty since March 2019. Prior to this I held positions within the Scottish Government, latterly the National Programme Director for the Allied Health Professions (AHPs) Active and Independent Living Programme (AILP). In 2017 in recognition of my contributions to Allied Health and in particular Physiotherapy I became a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
I am passionate about promoting the significant impact that Allied Health Professions can have on the health and well-being of the people who use our services.
Abstract:
This presentation highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with establishing an alternative pathway for patients with Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
In 2022, a National NZ Planned Care Task Force was established to improve equity, access and wait times for planned care delivery. This created a key opportunity for Allied Health to demonstrate the value of providing an alternative workforce to support this initiative.
National Allied leadership identified MSK as the priority alternative pathway, given the numbers of people waiting to be seen, the associated long waits and the restrictive model of care based on a medical workforce undertaking the specialist assessments despite strong evidence supporting advanced physiotherapy practice.
The process of establishing the pathway involved:
– prototyping the model across 6 districts for a 4-month period
– engagement with professional bodies
– creation of a national capability framework
During this period, over 1200 patients were assessed by an advanced physiotherapy practitioner (APP),with results showing that only 30% required a surgical review and the remaining 70% could be managed conservatively.
By 2024, the Minister of Health formally acknowledged the physiotherapy workforce’s capability to deliver this service, initiating a national rollout. This work has now commenced marking a critical opportunity to challenge the status quo and ensure consumers are seen at the right time, the right place and by the right professional – Allied Health can lead the way!