Trauma and orthopaedics
Referrals
We accept referrals from GPs and other health professionals
GP referrals
All NHS GP referrals must be submitted using the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). Referrals sent by email or post from NHS GPs will not be processed.
If you need advice about a patient, please use advice and guidance on e-RS.
Non GP and tertiary referrals
To help us book your patient into the most appropriate clinic, please provide as much information as possible. We may contact the patient before offering an appointment to make sure they are seen at the most suitable clinic.
Urgent referrals
Urgent referrals are triaged through the emergency department (A&E) and supported by a dedicated fracture clinic.
Referring to the spinal service
Referral requirements
We do not accept routine spine referrals directly from GPs. All referrals must be made via an MSK Triage and Treat service, in line with the National Back Pain Pathway. This ensures that the patient is reviewed by an MSK specialist (predominantly advanced practice physiotherapists), who will:
- provide an expert spinal assessment
- request any necessary diagnostics, including MRIs
- refer for a spine surgery opinion when clinically indicated (NG59)
All patients require an MRI scan performed within 1 year of the date of their referral unless an MRI scan is clinically contraindicated.
If you have a patient that requires an urgent review, such as patients with cauda equina syndrome, metastatic cord compression, or unstable spinal fracture then they need to be advised to visit their local accident and emergency urgently.
Acceptance criteria
Cervical spine conditions
- Cervical disc herniation
- Cervical spondylosis
- Cervical spinal stenosis
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Cervical myelopathy
- Degenerative disc disease (cervical)
- Neck pain (severe, non-resolving)
- Tumours of the cervical spine
Thoracic spine conditions
- Thoracic disc herniation
- Thoracic spondylosis
- Thoracic spinal stenosis
- Thoracic radiculopathy
- Thoracic myelopathy
- Kyphosis (thoracic)
- Thoracic osteoporotic vertebral fractures
- Tumours of the thoracic spine
- Scheuermann’s disease (thoracic)
Lumbosacral spine conditions
- Lumbar disc herniation
- Lumbar spondylosis
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)
- Degenerative disc disease (lumbar)
- Lumbar osteoporotic vertebral fractures
- Spondylolisthesis (lumbar)
- Lumbar spine instability
- Spinal deformities (e.g., scoliosis, kyphosis)
- Facet joint arthritis
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Spinal tumours (lumbar region)
Coccygeal spine conditions
- Coccydynia (tailbone pain)
- Coccygeal fractures
- Coccygeal dislocations
- Sacrococcygeal tumours
Contact us
Last updated: January 2025