What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to your chosen theme?

One third of women suffer from urinary incontinence (UI) and up to half of women have pelvic organ prolapse (POP). There is currently a long waiting list into secondary care  urogynaecology services  for these women. UI and POP are shown to significantly impact: on quality of life, personal finances ,psycho social issues , ability to work , relationships and the health economy.

It is estimated that it can take women 6-9 years to seek help for symptoms of incontinence and when they do, access to expert care is vital. NICE guidelines (2019) state physiotherapy as first line management for stress urinary incontinence.

Once patients have waited to be seen in urogynaecology , many are referred to physiotherapy with a further wait for physiotherapy intervention. In addition, many have been prescribed medication or sent for further investigations. This results in even longer waits for access to appropriate conservative treatment for their condition.

What does your project aim to achieve?

The NHS long-term plan describes the need for outpatient care transformation with care  shifting closer to home and  states that GP practices will deliver a wider range of specialist care services for patients from a range of  health professionals, including physiotherapists.

According to the Health Foundation  collaboration between primary and secondary care remains a challenge which can often lead to unnecessary referrals  and inappropriate patient pathway  adding to  patient anxiety.

To improve access to appropriate specialist pelvic health physiotherapy intervention, at first contact for UI and POP, in line with NICE guidance (2019). It is anticipated that most of these patients could be discharged after assessment, without requiring medical follow-up. This would reduce the wait for appropriate treatment for patients, decrease prescription of medication, reduce unnecessary investigations, with an overall cost saving. It would also free up time in GP and urogynacology clinics.

How will the project be delivered?

The project will delivered in primary care by  a specialist first contact practitioner (FCP) with close link into specialist secondary care, giving patients access to the most appropriate clinician at the first contact. Patients  will  self-refer to the clinics using a self-completed proforma developed as part of the pilot.

Should red flags or other concerning features be identified, referral to fast track pathway can be initiated. For those patients who require further management, the FCP will have the expertise to streamline the referral to the correct management pathway.

The project  will provide a clinic once per week for six months, followed by a month for  dissemination of outcomes. The team have links with local CCG’s following successful MSK FCP projects  funded by the Health Foundation and have already expressed interest.

Funding will  provide the specialist clinicians described above to deliver  clinics and  analyse and disseminate the outcomes.

What and how is your project going to share learning throughout?

Feedback will be delivered to GP practices and local CCGs, secondary care  and special interest groups locally and nationally.The clinicians involved  are experienced in presenting and delivering project information to various medical and health professional teams. Previously winning awards for  poster presentations. Specialist interest groups including POGP (pelvic, obstetrics and gynaecology physiotherapy), IUGA (international urogynaecology association) and ICS (international continence society) conferences. The team  have published the results of studies in the POGP peer-reviewed journal.  The team are  members of IUGA and POGP, which has built links to open opportunities to present in the future.

Project aims to:

• Publish results  in peer reviewed journal.
• Increase patient awareness regarding management of UI and PO, presenting to patient and community groups  and patient forums.
• Increase  use social media for specialist interest groups to promote  project, including the Q community.