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A UK hospital based multidisciplinary balance clinic run by allied health professionals: first year results

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2011

A Lee ,
G Jones ,
J Corcoran ,
P Premachandra  and
G A J Morrison
A Lee
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
G Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Physiotherapy, Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
J Corcoran
Affiliation:
Department of Physiotherapy, Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
P Premachandra
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
G A J Morrison*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Gavin Morrison, ENT Department, 2nd Floor, Lambeth Wing, St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK Fax:  + 44 (0)207 188 2192 E-mail: gajm@gavinmorrison.com
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Abstract

Objective:

To describe our experience of a new multidisciplinary balance clinic for the management of patients with vestibular disorders, run as a pilot project for 12 months.

Design:

Retrospective review of the outcomes of 194 patients.

Subjects:

All patients were first evaluated at the balance assessment clinic. Subsequently, each case was discussed at the multidisciplinary balance clinic weekly review meeting, and management decisions made.

Results:

The mean waiting time for the balance assessment clinic was 12 weeks (standard deviation six weeks). In total, 74 per cent of patients underwent rehabilitation, 26 per cent were seen in the balance specialist clinic, 15 per cent underwent additional testing, 6 per cent were followed up in adult otology clinics and one patient was listed for surgery. The waiting time for vestibular rehabilitation was reduced from 21 to 15 weeks. Patient satisfaction with the service was encouraging, and no adverse outcomes were recorded.

Conclusion:

This multidisciplinary balance clinic, run by allied health professionals, represents an alternative model for the management of patients with balance disorders.

Keywords

VertigoOutpatient Clinics, Hospitals
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 125 , Issue 7 , July 2011 , pp. 661 - 667
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

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Footnotes

Presented at the 27th Politzer Society Meeting, 4 September 2009, London, UK

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