Reflections on the development of nurse-led back pain triage clinics in the UK

SummaryThis paper discusses the development of the first Nurse-led triage clinic for back pain developed in the United Kingdom (UK). It identifies some of the health policies that support development of new ways to deliver services within the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), and explores some of the drivers that enabled such changes. The importance of using evidenced-based practice in developments is noted with some of the benefits to patients, consumers and organisations outlined. The reality of this type of service and its contribution to enabling the organisation to deliver on targets that have been part of regular health care expectations, are noted. Importantly, the Spinal Assessment Clinic (SAC) was a local solution to a local problem. However, the commitment to develop the service underpinned by evidence has made it possible to share this example of best practice with others who have then been able to adapt this to their own ‘local needs’. Consequently this approach has become accepted practice within the NHS, the service has been recognised as important to South Tees Trust in delivering back pain services, and the author was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002 for her work.