A new clinic has been set up at Galway University Hospitals in a bid to cut back on long orthopaedic waiting lists.

The clinic is being run by two clinical specialist physiotherapists, who will see 50 new patients per week.

The patients attending the clinic are assessed by the physiotherapists are given a management plan are commenced on treatment or if necessary are referred onto other services such as occupational therapy or podiatry.

If the patients need orthopaedic servives the relevant tests are carried out and the patients put in contact with the appropriate consultant specialty within orthopaedics.

The HSE says the orthopaedic waiting list at the Galway hospitals has been reduced by 55 weeks since the clinic started at the beginning of July.