Clinical Musculoskeletal Assessment and Treatment, the new and energizing activity investigates the viability of Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners in clinically surveying patients with musculoskeletal issues as an other option to the General Practitioner in essential care.

It is assessed that up to 30% of all GP counsels identify with musculoskeletal complaints1 , and confirm demonstrates that utilizing MSK Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners (APP) as the main purpose of contact for musculoskeletal protestations in essential care guarantees the patients are seen by the most suitable professional through the musculoskeletal care pathway, positively affecting auxiliary care referral rates into musculoskeletal services.

The service aims to:
 Improve quality of care for patients
 Increase GP time to take on a more medical caseload
 Reduce MSK referrals into secondary care

The aim is to achieve the following objectives:
 Ensure timely, high quality, appropriate evidence-based care for patients.
 Offer a viable alternative to GP consultations for patients that can be seen by APPs
 Be part of the long term solution to the predicted shortage of GPs
 Reduce demand on other services, to reduce waiting times
 Reduce duplication of referrals and consultations
 Keep services within the locality/community setting to improve patient experience and access to services
 Enable effective succession planning by upskilling the APP workforce within the field of independent prescribing, non-medical referring rights and injection therapy
 Appointment of APPs into Primary Care

Effectiveness of this service model is measured in terms of:
 patient satisfaction and acceptance
 the effective and efficient usage of the APP skills and time
 release of General Practitioner’s time
 effective intervention and discharge, or appropriate referral on to secondary care.