Dublin Midlands Spine Group

Referral Pathways

Referral Requirements:

All referrals must be made by hospital consultants, general practitioners, or chartered physiotherapists. These referral pathways comply with health insurance provider regulations.

If you are not referred through one of these routes, your insurer may refuse to cover subsequent treatment.

Steps to Address Your Spine Problem:

Obtain a Referral: Ensure you have a referral from an approved provider. This is essential for insurance coverage.
Get Imaging Done: An MRI scan is usually required to evaluate your condition fully.
Start Physiotherapy: While waiting for an appointment, begin physiotherapy if possible to manage symptoms and improve mobility.
Lifestyle Changes: Stop smoking and consider weight management to optimise surgical outcomes if required.
Review by Specialists: After your referral and MRI are reviewed by our spine surgery consultants:

You may be recommended for a Surgical Pathway (consultation with a spine surgeon for evaluation and treatment planning).
Alternatively, you may follow a Pain Management Pathway (consultation with a Pain Management Specialist, often a safe initial approach to avoid surgery if possible).

Tax Back on Medical Expenses:

Patients can claim tax refunds on out-of-pocket expenses such as consultation fees and diagnostic scans not covered by insurance.

Pain Medicine Involvement:

Our team collaborates closely with Consultant Interventional Pain Physicians to:

Provide the option of non-surgical solutions such as injections to alleviate symptoms as a first step.
Transition seamlessly to surgical options if non-surgical treatments prove insufficient to relieve systems.

Alternatives to surgery

Surgery is not the optimum solution for all presentations of spinal complaints.

DMSG liaises closely with colleagues in pain medicine and physiotherapy to ensure you receive appropriate treatment for your condition.