Service : Musculoskeletal Community Specialist Service (Berkshire West)

Our service also known as MSK CSS (musculoskeletal community specialist service) is a community-based service, with clinics running across West Berkshire. 

Our service provides peripheral joint assessment, imaging, diagnostics and management. We can refer on to other services if required e.g. Orthopaedics, Neurology, Physiotherapy as well as provide interventions such as steroid injections for specific conditions.

We run clinics across West Berkshire at locations including Finchampstead, Wokingham, Reading and Newbury. We also offer a small number of telephone consultations if this is clinically appropriate. 

We accept referrals for those aged 18 and over who are registered with a GP in West Berkshire.

To access our service you will require a referral by your GP Practice or specialist Consultant team. All referrals received are triaged by an advanced practitioner to the right service/ appointment type.

Referrals may be directed to other services such as physiotherapy or secondary care at the point of triage if this is more appropriate.

Once your referral has been received and triaged you will receive a letter confirming you are on our waiting list. When we can offer an appointment, you will receive a letter requesting you contact us to book an appointment.  Once an appointment is booked you will receive an appointment confirmation letter confirming all the details.  

Healthcare Professionals wishing to make a referral to MSK CSS can do so via E-referrals.  

Please carefully check the time and location of your appointment and allow yourself plenty of time to travel, as we may be unable to see you or complete a full assessment if you arrive late. 

Your first appointment typically lasts around 40 minutes.

You will be seen in clinic by one of our advanced physiotherapy practitioners. They specialise in the assessment and management of pain in your muscles, joints, or bones in the area your doctor has referred you for support.

We have both male and female clinicians within our service. If you have a preference, let us know at the time of booking and we will do our best to meet your request.

The assessment 

You and your clinician will firstly discuss your symptoms and medical history. It may be helpful to bring a list of your current medications to your appointment.

You will have a physical assessment. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and be aware that we may ask that you remove some clothing as part of the assessment.

You will have the opportunity to discuss your condition and ask us any questions. We will then discuss treatment options (including the risks and benefits) and decide together what treatment is right for you. You will also receive information to help manage your condition

In some cases, further tests may be required, but we’ll talk to you about these and arrange them when needed.

We will write an outcome letter following the appointment. This will summarise the information discussed in the appointment, assessment findings and the plan. This letter will be addressed to you as the patient and we will routinely send a copy to the GP and any other organisations involved in your care. 

If Tests Are Needed: What to Expect Next

Your advanced physiotherapy practitioner (APP) will let you know during your appointment what you need to do next if further tests are being arranged.

For some investigations such as MRI scans or nerve conduction studies you will be sent an appointment with a time and date provided. For other tests such as bloods tests you will need to arrange an appointment to have these taken. X-rays can be performed as a walk in appointment (no appointment needed) at certain locations but require you to book an appointment at other locations.

For more details about tests and scans, visit our Tests and Scans page.

The results of your investigations will be sent to your advanced physiotherapy practitioner. If you have undergone more than one type of test, your APP will usually wait until all results are available before informing you of the results.

You will usually receive a telephone call to discuss your test results and onward management plan

• Learn more about tests and scans

Physical activity

There is clear evidence that exercise and activity is the best treatment for pain. There is no set approach that is best so be guided by what exercise you enjoy and what you feel able to start. The following list shows local exercise programmes and ideas for you to do at home: 

Visit the following webpages to find local exercise programmes:

• Listings in 'Keeping fit and active' – Reading Borough Council
• Activities for adults – Wokingham Borough Council
• Physical Activity and Weight Management – West Berkshire Council

For ideas to keep active at home, go to:

• Exercise – NHS.UK
• Get active – Better Health – NHS.UK
• Exercises for healthy joints – Versus Arthritis

Stop smoking

Smoking can increase inflammation in the body and raise your risk of having back pain.

• Visit Smokefreelife Berkshire for free support

Mental wellbeing

Addressing your mental health is as importance as physical health.

We know that pain and injuries can impact our mental health and this can slow down our ability to recover. By improving our mental wellbeing we can also improve our physical health.

You can find more information about improving your mental wellbeing on the NHS website. This includes advice on how to make changes, as well as links to support and advice services.

• Visit the NHS website

Sleep

Sleep is incredibly important to our physical health. It is important to have good sleep hygiene, including a regular sleep pattern. 

Further information on sleep can be found on the NHS website

• Visit the NHS website

Healthy weight

Maintaining a health weight can help reduce the chance of pain and speed up the recovery. 

Advice and support on weight management can be found on the NHS website.

• Visit the NHS website