A HOSPITAL team more used to using its hands for treatment has been rewarded for using its brains.

Kidderminster's physiotherapy team landed second place for innovation in the Frontline Excellence Award 2000.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Award Conference recognised the telephone assessment and advice line set up at the hospital.

Physiotherapist Sue Jones came up with the idea of a telephone service to assess and advise patients.

This helped the physiotherapy department, which was struggling to see acute back pain patients within seven days, and helped keep the overall waiting times down.

The line helps physiotherapists prioritise by identifying those patients who need treatment urgently such as people with back and leg pain extending to below their knee or foot and those who would get better without any intervention.

Once a fax referral from the GP arrives, a qualified physiotherapist contacts the patient at home to assess, advise on self-management and prioritise the case.

The patient is then contacted a week later to see how they are getting on but if patients cannot cope and need an appointment then this can be arranged.