This is an official NHS evaluation of a pilot programme, the GIRFT Musculoskeletal Community Delivery Programme, designed to redesign community musculoskeletal services and reduce long waiting times for back, joint and muscle conditions across England.
What was studied?
The evaluation covered 17 participating integrated care systems between December 2024 and March 2025, comparing changes in waiting times for community MSK assessment against non-participating areas, and examining which service redesigns worked best.
What did they find?
Community MSK waiting lists of 18+ weeks fell by 20% in participating areas, while non-participating areas showed no significant improvement. Around 7,500 patients received faster assessments. Successful sites used digital tools and one-day clinics combining multiple specialist services.
Why it matters
Redesigning how musculoskeletal care is delivered, not just adding more staff or funding, can meaningfully cut the time patients wait for assessment and treatment.
Why we included it
It demonstrates the wider principle that efficient, well-coordinated service design gets patients onto the right treatment path without unnecessary delay.
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What was studied?
The evaluation covered 17 participating integrated care systems between December 2024 and March 2025, comparing changes in waiting times for community MSK assessment against non-participating areas, and examining which service redesigns worked best.
What did they find?
Community MSK waiting lists of 18+ weeks fell by 20% in participating areas, while non-participating areas showed no significant improvement. Around 7,500 patients received faster assessments. Successful sites used digital tools and one-day clinics combining multiple specialist services.
Why it matters
Redesigning how musculoskeletal care is delivered, not just adding more staff or funding, can meaningfully cut the time patients wait for assessment and treatment.
Why we included it
It demonstrates the wider principle that efficient, well-coordinated service design gets patients onto the right treatment path without unnecessary delay.