Physiotherapists from Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust, UK led by Hilary Bradbury, were early converts to the STarT Back approach. They took the opportunity to work with local GP practices in the Leek and Biddulph area of North Staffordshire to see whether they could bring the study into practice. They undertook an audit in partnership with the Clinical Audit Facilitation Service. They produced a detailed Audit Report and a Keele STarT Back physiotherapy audit template but their key findings about the STarT Back approach were:
- Using the SB tool improves accuracy in matching patient to treatment
- Ensures patients receive appropriate treatment by a skilled physiotherapist
- Avoids over-treating patients
- Pain and functions scores improve
- 100% patient satisfaction in a friends and family test
- Reduced waiting times for routine and urgent physiotherapy appointments
- Improved the discharge reporting process
- Reduced the number of patients being referred on for a second opinion.