NHS Want People’s Views On Musculoskeletal Services

The NHS East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (ERYCCG) has launched a survey to seek local views on ways to better support people with conditions affecting bones, ligaments, muscles and joints (for example back pain, shoulder and knee problems or muscular injuries).

In particular, the CCG wants to understand how the community musculoskeletal (MSK) service is used, how easy it is to access and how satisfied people are.

Dr Ulf Clausen, local General Practitioner and primary care lead for musculoskeletal care at the CCG, said: “As a GP, I know that a significant number of GP appointments are used by people suffering musculoskeletal conditions, who are then often referred on, for example to physiotherapy or podiatry services.”

“In a lot of cases, a patient could be assessed and treated by a physiotherapist working within primary care or the community, without having to visit their GP first. Not only can this free up GP appointment time, it also means patients can be seen much quicker by the most appropriate person to meet their clinical need.

“We are therefore seeking views on how best we can support people to better manage their own condition and to raise awareness of alternative services that are available without having to book an appointment with your GP.”

Alex Seale, Director of Commissioning and Transformation at East Riding Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Our goal is for all our local patients to be seen in the right place by the right person. There is a range of support available for MSK conditions and it’s important that patients are directed to the most appropriate support for them. As a CCG, engaging with patients is the best way we can find out if improvements could be made.”

The survey is open to everyone in the East Riding area, whether they have an existing condition or not.

You can complete the survey by visiting our website: www.eastridingofyorkshireccg.nhs.uk/msksurvey or request a hard copy by calling the CCG’s engagement team on 01482 672156 or emailing ERYCCG.contactus@nhs.net.

The closing date for views is 29 June 2018.