Do you need a referral for a physio

[macdhui]

My daughter is in England hiking and is 7 days in to a long distance hike and has developed achilles tendonitis. Her knee has blown up as well, I suspect due to her altered gait.
She’s going to ring around and see if she can get an appointment with a physio in the nearest town today ....I’ve just been told that in England she will need a GP’s referral.
.....can anyone tell me if this is correct? Thank you

I think that depends if she wants nhs physio or not.

If she is paying for it - no referral needed.
If she wants it on the NHS, referral needed & may take some time.

An NHS physio won’t see her today. She would need a GP referral and then there is a waiting list for an appointment.

She can find a private physio/sports physio and won’t need a referral.

She can pay for private treatment no problem. NHS will need GP referral and she will be on what can be quite a long wait list... so doesn't sound like what she needs now.

does she have travel insurance?
short term appoinments would probably be private, nhs tend to have long waiting times.
costs around 80£

I think it varies from area to area. Last time I tried it it took me three gp visits and several months to get a referral, but it depends on the severity I suppose. If her budget would run to private physio that might be easier.

Not really relevant for OP but in our area you can definitely self refer to physio. You call a number and get a call back from a physio who gives advice and decides if you need to be seen.

Actually in some areas you can self refer directly to NHS physiotherapists. It depends on commissioning arrangements. It won’t be same day service.

another thing - physio would not be primary care.
only primary care is covered by ehic.

In our area you self-referral via an online questionnaire about your condition but it can take weeks to get an appointment (or it did when I had bursitis of the hip).

private would be her best bet, that way she could probably get a same day appointment somewhere.

Maybe post on here asking for recommendations for a good physio in whatever area of England she's in.

Where I live you can self refer. Last time I did that, the receptionist told me that I live in an area with one of the quickest physio responses times. From handing in my forms to starting physio was around 3 weeks. So definitely pretty fast. But probably not fast enough for your daughter. (This is NHS I'm referring to).

Wow a thank you all so much wonderful mumsnetters!
She definitely needs to see a sports physio if she has any hope of completing her hike - it’s a 3 week hike and every night she has accommodation booked. She has health/travel insurance and will be more than happy to pay. She’s Australian so used to paying anyway!
I’ve passed on your messages - she’s very grateful too - just waiting for the physio to open. She’s hiking Coast to Coast & the nearest town is Kirkby Stephen where can get a bus to.
Thanks so much for all your advice

As a traveller to the UK Im assuming she has travel insurance?

She should call them and they should arrange or give her a list of places she is able to get treatment.

I am waiting for some physio and in my area it was GP referral, then a letter from hospital to call them to put me on a list to make an appointment, then another letter to ring within 7 days to make the actual appointment of which I am doing this morning, time taken so far 3 weeks, and I still have not had any physio.

NHS, referral, Private been seen as soon as.

Todamnhottoday yes she has insurance. She has just had a call from the clinic and they will see her at 11am. So relieved. She’s extremely stoic and hardy but she is only 18 and she also has two weeks of walking to go. She’s managed to arrange a lift from the tiny village she’s in so all good. Thank you all so much for your advice.

great to hear.
whist she's in the village she needs a good supply of ibuprofen and paracetamol as well. possibly insoles (may the physio can advise)

Good advice orangeshoebox - she made a heel raise out of a cardboard box and fixomul and has been living on ibuprofen & paracetamol plus elevating and icing +++. Also has compression bandage. She hasn’t been near a pharmacy for 4 days. She will be able to buy a proper heel raise today which will help and more ibuprofen. Thanks for your advice