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Government expands NHS musculoskeletal programme following successful pilot
Government expands NHS musculoskeletal programme following successful pilot
The government has announced a £3.2 million expansion of an NHS musculoskeletal programme in England after pilot sites reduced long waits for care. The move shows a growing policy focus on community-based care, prevention and helping people remain in work.
What’s happened
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced a £3.225 million investment to expand NHS England's Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Musculoskeletal Community Delivery Programme across England.
The programme follows a pilot involving 17 NHS areas, which reported a 20% reduction in 18-week waiting lists for musculoskeletal services between December 2024 and March 2025.
The funding will support a range of initiatives, including community musculoskeletal appointment days and "super clinics" designed to increase capacity and improve access to diagnosis, treatment and wider support services.
The programme also places a strong emphasis on helping people remain in, or return to, work. Employment support will be integrated into musculoskeletal services alongside clinical care.
According to the government, musculoskeletal conditions affect almost 18 million people in England and are one of the leading causes of health-related economic inactivity. More than half a million people who are economically inactive due to ill health report a musculoskeletal condition.
The expansion forms part of the government's wider ambition to move more NHS care from hospitals into community settings and improve access to preventative care.
Why this matters to members
Many podiatrists already play an important role within multidisciplinary musculoskeletal services, working alongside physiotherapists, orthopaedic teams, general practice and other healthcare professionals.
The announcement signals continued policy support for community-based models of care, prevention and earlier intervention, areas where podiatrists already make a significant contribution.
The government's focus on helping people remain active and in work also reflects the wider impact that musculoskeletal conditions can have on mobility, independence and quality of life.
As integrated care systems continue developing community pathways, the expansion may create further opportunities for podiatrists working in musculoskeletal services, first contact practice, advanced practice and independent practice settings.
What happens next?
The programme will now be rolled out across England, with clinical leads appointed across health systems to support implementation and spread best practice.
The government says the expansion will help standardise care, reduce variation between areas and improve access to support for people living with musculoskeletal conditions.
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