NHS Devon is celebrating the success of its first pioneering Community Appointment Day in Exmouth which, amongst other initiatives supported by the elective care team, has helped drive a dramatic reduction in waiting times for people needing musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy services across east Devon.
More than 100 patients were seen at the event held in May, which was delivered in partnership with Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and community partners, formed part of a wider NHS Devon-led recovery programme designed to improve access to community MSK services and support people to access both specialist health services along with the breadth of VCSE and other local services available.
The Community Appointment Day brought together physiotherapists, healthcare professionals and community organisations to provide a more holistic approach to supporting people with MSK conditions.
Alongside clinical assessment and treatment, patients were able to access advice and support focused on wider health and wellbeing needs, helping them manage their conditions and remain active and independent.
Attendees also had the chance to talk to representatives from 23 local organisations, such as Active Devon, Seachange, Open Door Exmouth, and the Hope Programme.
By offering this easy and immediate access to a wide range of local services supporting with housing, work, mental health, long-term conditions, physical activity, and more, patients were able to leave feeling supported and linked in to what is available within their community.
The programme of work which includes the CAD approach, was developed under the leadership of the One Devon Elective Improvement Programme, with support from NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, as part of a focused recovery effort targeting one of the most challenged community waiting lists in Devon.
The results have been significant:
- Since January 2025, the number of patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for a community MSK physiotherapy appointment provided by the Royal Devon University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has fallen from around 2,500 patients to just 69. Over the same period, the overall community MSK waiting list has reduced from approximately 7,000 patients to 5,000.
- Across Devon, performance has improved to 95.8 per cent of patients being seen within 18 weeks, significantly exceeding the national target of 78 per cent and making Devon the best-performing Integrated Care Board in the South West region for community MSK waiting times over 18 weeks. Performance at University Hospitals Plymouth and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust has remained in a strong position, with both services offering patients appointments well within 18 weeks.
The recovery programme has been overseen by NHS Devon’s elective care team and has included a range of initiatives such as additional “super clinics’ in the form of mutual aid supported by the team at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.
This also provided Torbay colleagues with an early insight into the use of the new electronic patient record system and early training.
The recovery programme at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust included systematising full waiting list validation, generating improved demand and capacity intelligence and waiting list management information, and the introduction of new ways of working including group clinics and virtual appointments.
Early outcomes from the Exmouth Community Appointment Day have been highly encouraging, with many patients receiving support that enabled them either to be discharged, directed to more appropriate services, or begin treatment sooner.
Overall, around 72 per cent of patients of patients attending the CAD have either been supported and discharged or referred on to the most appropriate service.
John Finn, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at NHS Devon said: “The success of the Exmouth Community Appointment Day demonstrates what can be achieved when NHS organisations, local providers and community partners work together around the needs of patients.
“By taking a whole-system approach, we have not only been able to make sure patients have been seen sooner for physiotherapy services but also helped people access the wider support that can make the biggest difference to their health, wellbeing and ability to stay active.
“Reducing the number of people waiting more than 18 weeks from around 2,500 to just 69 is a remarkable achievement and reflects the dedication of teams across Devon. Most importantly, it means people have been able to access the care and support they need much sooner.
“We are now looking at how the CAD model can be expanded across Devon and into other specialties, working closely with neighbourhood teams and local communities to understand the types of specialist input required for some of our local populations and how we can continue to provide timely, joined-up care closer to home.”
The Community Appointment Day forms part of a wider review of the MSK pathway across Devon, with partners exploring how the approach can become a routine part of service delivery in the future.
Further community appointment events are now being planned across North Devon, Plymouth and Torbay as NHS Devon continues its work to improve access, reduce waiting times and ensure people receive the right support at the right time, in the right place.
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