Service : Musculoskeletal Community Specialist Service (Berkshire West)

We're a community-based service, with clinics running across West Berkshire. We're often known as MSK CSS.

We provide peripheral joint assessment, imaging, diagnostics and management. We can refer on to other services if required such as 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 few telephone consultations where appropriate.

Our service meets the referral optimisation NHS approach that helps ensure patients receive the right care, from the right clinician, at the right time.

Rather than automatically referring patients to a hospital specialist, Community MSK Services can provide expert assessment, diagnosis, investigations, treatment and rehabilitation closer to home.

We are led by advanced physiotherapy practitioners. who can offer advice, support self-management, request further investigations, or refer to the most appropriate service if further care is needed. They can also seek specialist orthopaedic advice when required, helping to determine whether surgery is appropriate or whether other treatment options may be more beneficial.

This approach aims to reduce unnecessary hospital appointments, improve access to specialist expertise, support shared decision-making, and provide better outcomes and experiences for patients. 

For more information, visit NHS England - MSK approach. 

• For more information around NHS MSK approach, visit the NHS website: Visit NHS website

You can access our service if you're aged 18 and over, and registered with a GP in West Berkshire.

You can be referred by your GP or specialist consultant team. 

Unfortunately we can't accept self-referrals. 

We'll review your referral, and may guide you to another service such as physiotherapy or secondary care to right the right support for you.

We'll send a letter to you to confirm when you are on our waiting list, and then when we can offer you an appointment.

Care professionals  

If you're a healthcare professional, you can make a referral to MSK CSS through E-referrals.  

Please carefully check the time and location of your appointment and give yourself plenty of time to travel, as we may be unable to complete your 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, and bones.

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

The assessment 

We'll talk with your about your symptoms and medical history. It may be helpful to bring a list of your current medications to your appointment.

We'll then begin your physical assessment. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and be aware that we may ask that you remove some clothing as we examine you.

You can talk with us about the problems you're having, and ask us any questions you may have.

We'll then discuss treatment options and decide together what is right for you. 

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

After your appointment, we will send a letter to you and your GP with a summary of what we talked about, what we found, and your treatment plan.

If further tests are needed

On some occasions, further tests will be needed to help us understand what might be causing your issue.

Your advanced physiotherapy practitioner (APP) will let you know during your appointment if further tests are needed.

For some investigations such as MRI scans or nerve conduction studies, we'll arrange an appointment with you.

For other tests such as bloods tests, you will need to arrange an appointment.

X-rays can be performed as a walk-in procedure, meaning no appointment will be needed at some of our locations.

Test results will be sent to your advanced physiotherapy practitioner. If you have had more than one type of test, your APP will usually wait until all results are available before talking with you.

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

Visit our Tests and Scans webpage for more details.

• Learn more about tests and scans

Physical activity

Research evidence shows that exercise and activity is the best treatment for pain.

There is no one way to do this. so the right approach is to take your time and do the exercises you enjoy. 

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

Visit NHS webpages for ideas on how to keep active at home.

• Exercise – NHS.UK
• Get active – Better Health – NHS.UK
• Managing arthritis – Arthritis UK

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 just as important as your 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.

Visit the NHS website for more information about improving your mental wellbeing. 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