There are just shy of 650,000 people out of work due to musculoskeletal problems (MSK) in the UK right now, unable to access the support they need to get well and get working.

But with so many people unable to work, the impact of MSK conditions and long treatment periods extends beyond health and into economics.

Recent NHS trials of remote-care technology have proven successful in addressing the issue - successfully reducing 18-week community waiting lists by 20%. This proactive, prevention-first approach showed combining digital support with face-to-face specialist care can help people manage their conditions sooner, stay active and return to employment.

However, with an existing waitlist of 350,000 people, the NHS cannot solve this crisis in isolation. The private MSK sector already delivers one-third of all physiotherapy in the UK and it is time to leverage this existing infrastructure. To truly get Britain back to work, we must integrate private sector technology-led expertise to expand access to preventative care nationwide.

Collaboration spearheaded by technology

In the wake of the pandemic, the healthcare landscape has evolved into a hybrid model, with private healthcare increasingly bridging the gap created by unprecedented NHS demand. Expansion of the private MSK sector has been fueled by a surge in investment directed towards acquiring and scaling technological innovation to help clinics manage their growing number of patients.

While the NHS is slowed by layers of administrative red tape, the private sector has the advantage of being able to move faster and capitalise on emerging tech. This freedom from heavy legacy bureaucracy means private clinics can integrate automated workflows and advanced triage tools in weeks, whereas the same transition might take years within the public sector.

This integrated technology allows MSK clinicians to streamline administrative and communication tasks, and place greater focus on prioritising patient care. Clinicians' time is freed up as a result, enabling them to see more patients without increasing costs. These are essential capabilities to support the NHS, reduce patient waiting times and support more people to get back to work.

Bespoke care

As well as being able to treat more patients, integrated technology enables private MSK clinics to support a wider range of specialist care pathways across both in-person and remote settings.

Working from home has become a permanent and popular fixture of post-pandemic life. There is no reason healthcare treatment shouldn't be just as flexible. For example, many patients suffering with MSK conditions may prefer to receive treatment from the comfort of their own home, without the need for unnecessary travel.

Modern integrated platforms allow MSK clinics to move beyond basic hybrid models, offering bespoke treatment plans tailored to a patient's lifestyle and needs, and effectively manage their treatment online if required.

These systems enable clinics to offer access to specialist services depending on their needs, including preferences for gender of practitioners, language support and treatment location, which are often difficult for the NHS to provide. The result is a tailored recovery journey that balances clinical excellence with patient convenience.

Result-driven research

Switching to a single digital system is a big project, but it more than pays off: it cuts out paperwork to give staff more time with patients, leading to faster recoveries and more business.

A great example of this is a Belfast-based MSK clinic that saw a 100% increase in bookings by simply embracing digital self-service. Using TM3's booking portal, the clinics gave patients the ability to manage their own appointment times, removing the need for back-and-forth admin work. This new-found time was funneled back into reaching new patients. Paired with robust marketing tools, it allowed the practice to scale rapidly and serve a much larger community.

But this is just one example. If rolled out across the country, private MSK clinics would be serving thousands more patients, slashing waiting lists and powering Britain to return to work.

A collaborative effort to get more people get back to work 

With so many people waiting for MSK treatment, it's clear that a collaborative effort is needed. The private sector is well-positioned to help reduce these waiting lists by using new technology to support patients. This approach provides people with the focused care they need while helping to ease the overall strain on the NHS.

By embracing technology and joining forces, the private sector can support the NHS to transition hundreds of thousands of individuals back into employment, turning a national challenge into a landmark success for public health.