New Service Trial for Certain Paediatric Orthopaedic Conditions 8 Jul 2021

New service trial for certain paediatric orthopaedic conditions

New service trial for certain paediatric orthopaedic conditions

BOPDHB is piloting a new Paediatric Orthopaedic Triage Service (POTS) in the Western Bay, which will be available for specific paediatric postural variants. GPs will be able to refer to this service from 26th July 2021.

Prior to POTS, GPs would refer children with orthopaedic conditions directly to Orthopaedics where they could wait 4-6 months to be seen by an Orthopaedic specialist often to be referred onto a paediatric physiotherapist as the majority of children with normal variants don’t  require surgery.  The new service will enable children to be seen quickly by an expert paediatric physiotherapist who will be able to provide assessment and treatment options.

POTS criteria
POTS sits under the wider BOPDHB Orthopaedic services umbrella alongside the Community Orthopaedic Triage Service (COTS).

The POTS Clinic will see the below postural variant conditions in those under 16 years of age:

- Intoeing/Out toeing
- Flat feet
- Toe Walkers
- Curly Toes
- Bow Legs
- Knock knees

These children can be referred to POTS from Primary Care via a new POTS BPAC referral form accessible under Orthopaedics.

Localised health pathways will be made available via theMidland Region Community Health pathways. This information will include patient handouts to support the whanau of the tamariki. It will also outline when to refer to a specialist service (POTS).

The BOP POTS pathway is:

• BPAC referral
• Physio triages referral within 72 hours
• Patient booked into a POTS clinic
• Physiotherapist sees patient for their initial assessment within 4 weeks of referral received
• Intervention provided by the physiotherapist where possible and either discharged from the service or on-referred (see pathways listed below)

Onward referral pathways of postural variants include:

• Paediatric Physiotherapy (for on-going paediatric physiotherapy management)
• Orthotics
• Self-Management – Discharged backed to primary care with advice and education
• A DHB Health Speciality Service Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, Child Development Services

POTS clinics will operate out of Tauranga Orthopaedic Outpatients alongside our Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeons’ clinics so that the physiotherapist can consult with the surgeon as required. Clinics will then look to be set up within Whakatane Hospital. The long-term intent is to relocate these clinics into the community based on community need.

Linked here is the POTS poster, patient information leaflet and “frequently asked questions and answers”  (Q & A for GP's, Q & A for patients) for your information. Hardcopies of the patient information leaflet will be distributed to your practice.

The POTS team are more than happy to come out your practice to answer in person any questions or queries you may have about POTS. We are also happy to be contacted via email POTS.clinic@bopdhb.govt.nz or you can ring Annie/Brigitte (our friendly paediatric physiotherapists) direct on 027 589 4219.

The POTS team will also be presenting at a CME session on POTS conditions, and paediatric musculoskeletal assessments booked for the 19^th October 6.30pm – 8pm at the Clinical Education Centre, 889 Cameron Road, Tauranga.