Further Resources

• Healthy Shropshire
   

  Many of us think our lifestyles could be healthier. Healthy Shropshire has been designed to help anyone wanting to make a change in their lifestyle and improve their health.

  It provides information on support available to you in making the changes you want. It covers the key aspects that are most important in leading a healthy lifestyle:

  • Stopping smoking
  • Keeping physically active
  • Eating healthily
  • Drinking sensibly
  • Feeling positive
     

  Information covers all ages, from early years, through childhood, adulthood and later life.

  Healthy Shropshire includes a Directory which enables you to find local NHS and other services in your area, and provides a search facility.  This includes smoking cessation services, weight loss programmes, exercise on referral programmes and local opportunities, such as Active4Health classes for getting more physically active.

• Healthy Telford
  
  If you are a resident of Telford & Wrekin, you can make an appointment to get advice or health information from the Healthy Lifestyle Hub in Telford at Southwater One in Telford Town Centre. They offer a range of health promotion and lifestyle change programmes to the residents of Telford and Wrekin.
  
  A specialist team of health promotion practitioners and health trainers are available at First Point from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, to undertake a healthy lifestyle assessment and onward referral if required, into a range of health improvement services. 
   

Information to help you manage more specific conditions/diagnoses
 

• Muscles, Joints and Bones Information
  
  You can find information on common MSK conditions and treatment options on the NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group website. The information is intended to help patients, public and carers with managing conditions affecting muscles and joints, and also to inform decisions about treatment (shared decision making).

• NHS.uk
  
  NHS.uk is for condition-specific advice and self-management. It provides an award-winning, comprehensive health information service with thousands of articles, videos and tools, helping you make the best choices about your health and lifestyle, as well as making the most of NHS and social care services in England.

• Patient.info
  
  This website provides information is one of the most trusted medical resources online, supplying evidence based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals.
   
• Versus Arthritis
   

  A community providing support for people with arthritis across the UK. They support world-class research and breakthrough treatments.. Versus Arthritis advisors aim to bring all of the information and advice about arthritis into one place to provide tailored support for you.

• British Pain Society
  
  The British Pain Society has information to help patients living in pain. This is particularly useful for patients with more persistent non-specific low back pain.
  
   
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Back Pain Exercises
  
  This leaflet provides general information about back pain and simple exercises that may help. It explains how the back works, what causes back pain and what can be done to help.

• Keele OA booklet: Osteoarthritis Guidebook 
  
  This is a guide from Keele University for people who have Osteoarthritis. It provides information, advice and exercises to help support the management of the Osteoarthritis condition.
  
   
• MSK Knowledge Hub
   

  The MSK Knowledge Hub is part of the partnership between the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance and NHS England. The aim is to provide a searchable resource library for people working on support for people with musculoskeletal conditions. The Hub incorporates an interactive MSK Forum enabling people to discuss and share views.

  It is a resource for health professionals, health leads and anyone interested in MSK health.
   

• The National Osteoporosis Society (NOS)
  
  The NOS is an organisation which states its vision is a future without osteoporosis. There is a wealth of useful information on its website.
  
   
• Useful Films
  
  - Back Pain Management - 'The truth about back pain'
  - Back Pain - 'Separating fact from fiction', Prof Peter O'Sullivan

Information on services close to home

Information for those with more persistent aches and pains seeking more individualised help professional

• Therapy Department, RJAH
  
  Our Therapy Department  is made up of specialist teams of  Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Support Workers and administrative staff. You can find out all about the therapy services we offer at our hospital on the dedicated therapy section of our website.
   

• Shropshire Orthopaedic Outreach Service
  
  The Shropshire Orthopaedic Outreach Service (SOOS) offers specialist multidisciplinary team assessment and management to patients with musculoskeletal health problems who do not require hospital treatment. Visit the dedicated page on our website for more information.
   

• Community Physiotherapy in Shropshire
  
  Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust has Physiotherapy Departments in Market Drayton Medical Practice, Princess House in Shrewsbury and Whitchurch, Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Bishop's Castle Community Hospitals. Clinics are also offered in Shifnal, Church Stretton, Pontesbury, Marysville and Knockin. More information can be found on the dedicated physiotherapy pages of the Shropshire Community Health Trust website.
   

• Community Podiatry Clinics in Shropshire
  
  Specialist podiatrist clinics are available throughout Shropshire for assessment and treatment of muscle and joint problems within the foot and ankle.  Clinics are at Craven Arms – The Gateway, Princess House in Shrewsbury, Oswestry Health Centre and Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Whitchurch Community Hospitals.
  
  Children's Gait Clinics are at Princess House, Shrewsbury and Newport Cottage Care Centre. More information can be found on the dedicated podiatry pages of the Shropshire Community Health Trust website.
   

• Telford Musculoskeletal Service (TeMS)
  
  The Telford Musculoskeletal Service (TeMS) offers specialist care to patients for joint and muscle (musculoskeletal) health problems. The service covers specialty areas including Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Chronic Pain Management. Referrals are clinically triaged to determine the best place for patients to start their pathway.

   

  Patients may be seen by a Physiotherapist, Podiatrist or Occupational Therapist. Where further assessment and/or investigations are required access to General Practitioners with Special Interests or Extended Scope Practitioners is available. Some patients may need to see a consultant in either Orthopaedics or Rheumatology where referrals on for surgery or medication may be prescribed.

Information on services in hospital

Information on referrals to hospital for a consultant opinion
 

•  Your orthopaedic surgeon will be able to advise you on the surgical options and the potential pros and cons of having or delaying surgery, taking into account your age, health and level of activity.
  
   

• Orthopaedic clinics are available in Whitchurch, Bridgnorth and Ludlow Community Hospitals as well as Market Drayton Medical Practice.