Have you been referred to MSK Services?
Posted , 3 users are following.
If you have recently been referred with a musculoskeletal problem it was probably via a new government initiative called MSK Services set up in areas around the country at vast cost on a supposedly community basis. If so how did you how did you get on with your referral and treatment?
I have had major problems with my local group and will be complaining to them and the Quality Care Commission so I wondered about the experience of others in different parts of the country.
0 likes, 13 replies
holly_12500 derek76
Posted
I have hip and lower back pain,cannot sleep at night,cannot sit or bed without pain.
Trying to get app with my GP again 9 weeks is far too long to wait.
derek76 holly_12500
Posted
My first two appointments were to the wrong type of consultants so I got nowhere.
It is supposed to be a 'without profit organisation' but Money Men are are seemingly getting the contracts including an ex director of Argos and Asda and people who have profited from other health care companies.
This time since referral in September they have totally misunderstood my GP's letter because the people doing Triage are not medically trained in any way. They have 27 staff in a new office building none of whom are medically qualified.
First they wanted to refer me to a pain clinic that I do not need. Then to a neurologist that I had already been to and now to a physiotherapist that my GP says would be the worst possible thing for my back.
I am now taking the private route and have had a back CT scan and have seen a neurosurgeon.
I am going to complain to my MP and the Quality Care Commission about MSK.
holly_12500 derek76
Posted
But now I really need to see someone.
Waiting for app with my GP and I'm going private.I am also making a complaint to my mp.
derek76 holly_12500
Posted
The receptionist looked puzzled when she failed to see my name on the system. I produced my letter, she phoned the ESP I had the appointment with who told her to phone the local MSK office. They said that I had cancelled my appointment!
I asked to speak to the person who said that I had cancelled it and got nowhere with her in a round about conversation. I asked for it to be reinstated but she said that as I had cancelled it I had been referref back to my GP.
Lgl88 derek76
Posted
derek76 Lgl88
Posted
When I lived in Scotland ten years ago I had to wait 16 weeks for an NHS physio appointment for tendonitis. My GP said that was because I was retired and they give preference to workers.
I wrote to my MSP who was the Health Minister and in his classic reply he said that he had not realised that the waiting times were so long.
Lgl88 derek76
Posted
derek76 Lgl88
Posted
I went to an NHS physio four years ago with hip pain. She thought that I had spinal stenosis and gave me back exercises that did give me back pain. She then decided that I did not have spinal stenosis and I decided to go elsewhere. I saw an orthopaedic consultant who said that it was bursitis and cured it with a steroid injection.
holly_12500 derek76
Posted
I went to physio because I was in so much pain,I wasn't given any exercise I was told to go back to gp and rest.
After a visit to gp was given morhine to help through the night.
I am making a private appointment with a orthopedic surgeon after christmas.
I am taking 16 pain killers a day + morphine on the night.
I believe gp have to send you to msk first before anything else is done .I may be wrong but it seems 12 weeks to see physio and perhaps another 12 to 16 weeks if refered to hospital. I can't wait that long.
derek76 holly_12500
Posted
derek76 holly_12500
Posted
I left a message on their voicemail and someone called me back. She said that she had no record of me on the system. I told her when I had last been there but that I had a later one off appointment arranged by MSK to investigate the numbness in my foot that they could not help with. It seems that time I was seen by the manager who closed my file saying no follow up required and that took me off my normal list as well. She said that I would now need to get my GP to refer me again as a new patient and the waiting list for new patients is three months,
holly_12500 derek76
Posted
The specialist put me obviously steroids straight away and they have made such a big difference.no way could have have waited on nhs .I don't think gp can send you to see specialist untill you have been to msk,I may be wrong.hope you get sorted soon.
derek76 holly_12500
Posted
When I checked the NHS waiting times to see a neuro surgeon I was tod that I am on two lists, 67 on one and 811 on the other with a minimum wait of 35 weeks for an initial appointment..