Clinical Practice for GPs

ourThrough NRC Clinical Practice, GPs have the option to refer patients with serious neurological conditions to one of our Consultants in Rehabilitation Medicine.

Conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord have pathologies affecting multiple systems and result in complex disabilities. These patients can present with a wide array of problems which many GPs rarely see, such as spasticity, dystonia, severe cognitive and behavioural impairment, autonomic storming, seizures, neurogenic bladder and bowel, PEG feeding, swallowing impairment, heterotopic ossification and complex chronic pain. Nevertheless, once discharged, their first port of call, especially when the situation is unstable, is usually their GP. This can often leads to an unsatisfactory outcome for both parties.

Supporting GPs to manage complex patients

From our Founder’s early experience as a GP, we know how busy GPs are in primary care. Since the pandemic, the challenges of working in a health system stretched beyond its resources are even greater.

Though it is rare that your patients suffer major trauma, such as brain or spinal cord injuries or similar life-changing events, when they do, each case results in the need for a range of complex medical and therapeutic inputs tailored to the individual.

Of course, GPs work hand in hand with specialists in secondary care every day across all the major disciplines such as gynaecology, orthopaedics, cardiology, etc. Usually, this is relatively straightforward, particularly in conditions that affect single physiological systems. Indeed, many clinical specialities are well-resourced in the NHS and able to support GPs and their patients appropriately.

However, this is rarely the case when it comes to Medical Rehabilitation. Services are frequently rationed, posts are left vacant, and specialist services often have to be sourced out of the area. The recent audit by UKABIF highlighted this.

With NRC Clinical Practice, our Consultants in Rehabilitation Medicine can prescribe the clinical and therapeutic inputs required, review progress and advise on any complications which may arise. They work with and advise GPs, therapists, patients, carers and families. They can become involved where the NHS is unable to deliver.