Healthcare Professionals

About Physiotherapy Self-Referral

When to consider self-referral

If your patient is suitable for physiotherapy, please consider directing them to the ESMSK physiotherapy self-referral form.

Using self-referral:

  • Reduces workload for GP practices and clinical teams

  • Allows ESMSK to receive the referral in the patient’s own words, including their concerns and expectations

  • Supports more effective clinical triage and decision-making for the first appointment

Patients entering ESMSK via self-referral are clearly identified within our system.

Clinical safety and triage

All self-referrals are clinically triaged by ESMSK clinicians to ensure the pathway is appropriate.

If a patient self-refers and is not suitable for ESMSK at that time, you may receive an advice and guidance note confirming that:

  • the patient attempted to self-refer, and

  • onward action or alternative management is recommended

This ensures patient safety and maintains clinical oversight.

What patients need to self-refer

To complete the online self-referral form, patients will need:

  • Access to the internet via their own device or that of a friend or family member (phone, tablet or PC)

  • Their NHS number (this can be found HERE)

Accessibility and alternative referral routes

We do not currently offer a paper or telephone version of the physiotherapy self-referral form.

If a patient:

  • is unable to access the form, or

  • is unable to complete it independently

we will continue to accept referrals through traditional referral routes, as usual.

Evaluation and evidence

In July 2022, a large-scale evaluation of the physiotherapy self-referral pathway was undertaken, involving:

  • patients

  • clinicians

  • administrative teams

The evaluation demonstrated clear benefits for patients, clinicians and practices. (See the linked PDF for full findings.)

Practices already using the pathway may find the evaluation useful in understanding how the model has been received. We welcome examples of best practice so these can be shared across the PCN.

If your practice has not yet used the self-referral pathway, we would be happy to:

  • talk through the process

  • share outcomes and benefits

  • support implementation within your practice

Evaluation PDF

Feel free to CONTACT US to discuss further.