The integrated musculoskeletal (iMSK) service is a collaboration of the Bay Health and Care Partners working together, including University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Patients are being referred to the community based service by their GPs instead of having their appointment in hospital.
The iMSK service runs clinics at at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal, Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Grange-over-Sands, Millom and Bentham. The service has seen 1,903 patients since January 2018.
The service has seen improvements including:
• Patients being seen closer to home
• Reduced travel costs for patients
• In a recent Friends and Family survey 97% of patients said they would recommend the service.
There are plans to extend the clinics to more locations around the Dudden Valley and Lancaster region imminently.
James Geary, Extended Scope Physiotherapist, UHMBT, said: “Patients are seen by experienced clinicians to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions through assessment, appropriate scans, blood tests and joint injections that were traditionally provided in an orthopaedic clinic. Patients are seen locally and it also takes pressure off the orthopaedic teams which results in shorter waiting times for patients who need surgery.”
A patient said: “The whole process was straightforward clearly explained and instructive, would recommend the approach, as I now have a much clearer idea of what is wrong and what to do about it.”
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