More and more patients are able to find a physiotherapist without a referral from their GP. This is apparent from research by the National Information Provision for Paramedical Care (LiPZ) of NIVEL.
Physiotherapists have been directly accessible since 2006. In that year, about two in ten customers went directly to a physiotherapist. Last year, that number had risen to 38 percent, or about four in ten customers.
Who then?
The elderly go relatively little without referral to the physiotherapist and remedial therapist † They are mainly higher educated, patients with short-term complaints and patients with low back complaints, neck complaints or shoulder complaints who visit the physio themselves.
On average, they receive two less treatments . from the physiotherapist compared to patients with a referral. Direct access may also be introduced for other paramedical professions such as the dietitian.
