Orthopaedic GP Fellowship: does it work?

BACKGROUND: General practitioners (GPs) see a significant number of musculoskeletal problems in their daily caseload. However, orthopaedic training often forms a relatively small part of their undergraduate and postgraduate training.
METHODS: A training fellowship for GPs was set up in Warrington to improve management of patients with common orthopaedic complaints in the primary care setting, and to facilitate more appropriate referrals to orthopaedic surgeons. Following the fellowship, GP referral patterns were examined.
RESULTS: It was found that the GP fellows were managing many conditions more appropriately, either conservatively, or with skills learnt during the fellowship. There was an increase in the number of referred cases being listed for surgery indicating a more appropriate referral pattern to hospital.
CONCLUSIONS: The Orthopaedic GP Fellowship has improved patient management in primary care and helped GPS better identify those patients who need to be referred for a specialist orthopaedic opinion.