Sarang explains why offering more expertise from local GP practices is so valuable for all involved:
“Orthopaedic patients often make up 30-40% of GP appointments, with ailments such as back pain, muscular pain or similar conditions. Under new guidelines, these patients can now be booked in directly with me for diagnosis.
“Traditionally, a GP may have referred patients for an X-ray at the hospital before being able to treat the patient further, to rule out certain causes. When patients come to me, not only can they be seen quicker, but I can diagnose the cause, get relevant scans organised, or refer them on to the correct pathway.
“This frees up GPs to see other patients faster, improving speed of care overall.”
There are many benefits to this service, Sarang is enthusiastic about this new way of working:
“Patients are reassured by seeing a specialist. I can think of many success stories, however, one that stands out for me is a cyclist in his 40s who had fallen off his bike. The chain had come off and the chain spike had gone into his calf. But that’s not when I met him.
“He let the injury heal naturally. At first, it seemed to be okay, but around a year after the fall, he developed more pain in his calf. Upon consultation, I suspected he had a DVT Deep Vein Thrombosis, a swelling caused by a blood clot in the vein. This can be a life-threatening condition. I sent him straight to A&E where he was found to have a DVT in his calf and another one that had travelled to his lungs. He could have died at any moment.
“Luckily, he received treatment in time, and I spoke to him a week or so later. He had medication and was recovering well. He was so grateful.
“I am so glad I moved to this role where I can help people get the right care, at the right time.”
Get the care you need quicker
Lots of work is underway to help people get quicker, easier access to important NHS healthcare services in mid and south Essex. This includes helping people to access a range of services without needing to see their GP first.
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