As part of the Government's drive to tackle economic inactivity – where someone is out of work and not looking for work – 17 ICBs across England will share part of a £3.5m package to improve MSK services.
The funding will see each area receive up to £300,000 to treat one of the main drivers of economic inactivity.
The MSK Community Delivery Programme will be administered through NHS England's Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, and will give ICBs the resources and leadership to develop more efficient ways of getting MSK patients treated, off waiting lists and back onto the path of employment.
Minister for employment, Alison McGovern, said: ‘For too long people locked out of work with health issues have been forgotten about and denied the support they need to get well and get working. It's stifling our economy and preventing those eager to progress in life from unleashing their full potential.
‘This multi-million-pound funding boost means musculoskeletal patients across the country will get the help they need, as we give clinical leaders the resources to innovate, get people off waiting lists and get Britain working again.'
There are 2.8 million people economically inactive due to long-term health and MSK is the second largest reason given, behind mental health. Around 646,000 people (23%) said MSK was their primary condition.
Waiting lists for MSK community services are the highest of all community waits in England, at 348,799 people in September 2024, with approximately 23.4 million working days in the UK being lost due to MSK conditions in 2022 alone.
Several of the 17 ICB locations spearheading the delivery of this programme also host NHS England's Further Faster 20 programme and the Government's recently announced WorkWell programme – meaning people with MSK conditions will benefit from an amalgamated approach of reduced waiting lists combined with intensive and bespoke employment support.
Professor Tim Briggs, NHS England's national director of clinical improvement and elective recovery and chair of the Getting it Right First Time programme, said: ‘The NHS has a proven record of spearheading improvements through the Getting it Right First Time Programme and this initiative could make a real difference to people with MSK conditions – providing them with the care they need and helping them to return to work.
‘Local health systems will be able to assess their current services and share examples of best practice to roll out innovative ways of working, as well as improving data on how services are performing.'
The Government announced the launch of the Get Britain Working White Paper in November as part of the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation, bringing together skills and health to get more people into work and get on in work.
