Consultant Physiotherapist Andrew McDonough has been appointed as NCA trauma, orthopaedic and plastic surgery research lead.
As an experienced Principal Investigator, his work addresses real-world healthcare challenges, making significant contributions to both physiotherapy practice and broader healthcare service delivery.
He is currently in year two of his professional doctorate in health, which will focus on the barriers and enablers to the implementation of orthopaedic research in the trauma setting. He is especially interested in why large pragmatic trials fail to influence clinical practice.
His past research has included work on urgent treatment centres that provided compelling evidence for workforce diversification in these settings. This revealed that advanced physiotherapy practitioners (APPs) managed 30% of the caseload with comparable outcomes to GPs and emergency nurse practitioners, while demonstrating superior efficiency with fewer 30-day re-attendances.
Virtual clinics
His longitudinal research on virtual fracture clinics represents the largest study of its kind to date, tracking outcomes over eight years in a major trauma centre. It showed that APP-led virtual clinics deliver high-quality, cost-effective care with patient satisfaction levels among the highest in published literature.
In addition, he’s contributed significantly to improving diagnostic accuracy in musculoskeletal conditions such as cauda equina syndrome, providing crucial guidance for clinicians managing complex spinal presentations, and scaphoid fractures.
Andrew’s case series on distal radius manipulation under anaesthetic by APPs demonstrated that appropriately trained physiotherapists can safely perform this procedure. This work includes a detailed competency pathway incorporating work-based learning, supervised practice, and independent non-medical prescribing.
He also has expertise in sports medicine and injury prevention in rugby league.
Evidence base
Overall, his work challenges traditional professional boundaries while maintaining high standards of patient safety, contributing significantly to the evidence base for advanced practice roles in the NHS.
Andrew said: “I’m very honoured to take on the role of research lead for trauma and orthopaedics. This traditionally medical role shows how opportunities are open to appropriate qualified staff from differing backgrounds. I am excited to continue working with my orthopaedic consultant colleagues as well as the wider multidisciplinary research team on the growing portfolio I have inherited. I hope to assist other AHPs and non-medical roles in to being research active to improve care for our patients.”