Tullamore Hospital expands osteoarthritis care programme

The Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) continues to deliver outstanding results in the GLA:D Ireland Programme for osteoarthritis, enhancing access to evidence-based physiotherapy care for patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the town's catchment area.

The GLA:D (Good Life with osteoArthritis from Denmark) programme, developed in Denmark and now implemented in over 10 countries, combines group education and supervised exercise to empower individuals with OA to manage their symptoms.

Supported by the Health Research Board and co-ordinated nationally by the University of Limerick, the programme reflects the latest clinical guidelines and patient-centred care practices.

This new initiative builds on the foundation laid by Ms Dorothy Niall, Consultant Surgeon who first championed the introduction of a weekly Knee OA exercise class at MRHT. That class, led by Niamh Kilroy, Clinical Specialist in Musculoskeletal Triage, followed GLA:D principles and served regional orthopaedic patients.

“We saw the need for structured, supportive care for our orthopaedic patients with knee OA. The original class was a step forward, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see it evolve into a full GLA:D programme that can now reach even more patients,” Ms Niall said.

The newly launched GLA:D class runs twice weekly, in the hospital gym, and is offered to patients on the MRHT physiotherapy waiting list. It serves both as a waiting list initiative and a first-line physiotherapy intervention.

Key Outcomes from MRHT’s GLAD Programme:

Pain Reduction: Pain scores decreased by 23%.

Medication Use: 45% of participants reported using less or significantly less pain medication.

Improved Function: Sit-to-stand repetitions increased by 26%.

Enhanced Quality of Life: Joint-related quality of life scores improved by 27%.

High Engagement and Satisfaction:

Four in five participants attended almost all of the sessions

100% reported being satisfied or very satisfied.

95% continue to use what they learned at least once a week.

Nine in ten participants rated their joint condition as somewhat better, better, or much better.

“The GLA:D programme represents a significant step forward in how we deliver care for patients with osteoarthritis.

“It’s a scalable, evidence-based model that not only improves outcomes but also helps us manage waiting lists more effectively," Ciara Galvin, Physiotherapist Manager in Charge III, Physiotherapy Services MRHT & Community Services Offaly, said.

The programme reflects MRHT’s commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care.

Referrals for this programme are accepted from General Practitioners, and services within MRHT including Orthopaedics, Rheumatology the Emergency Department. It is also available to anyone on the MRHT physiotherapy waiting list.

For more information on GLA:D Ireland, visit www.gladireland.ie.