MSK Clinics and Appointments

What happens when you have been referred by your GP practice

You may receive a letter stating Your Referral is being Reviewed 

Within two weeks of you being referred, you should then receive a text message or letter advising that your referral has been received. This will state that you have been placed on the waiting list - current waiting times are up to 20 weeks. 

If you don't have a letter or text message stating that your referral has been received, please contact the MSK Service. 

You will be contacted to arrange a face -to-face appointment to assess your needs, if you prefer you can request a telephone appointment.

We have a lot of patients who require input from the MSK service and are sorry that the waiting times are long.

MSK conditions do not usually respond well to rest, so it is useful to stay as active as you can. Here is a link to some movement videos which aim to support you during this time: Let's Move with Leon | Versus Arthritis

Following on from your first appointment, you may be given advice and an appropriate exercise programme to try, or it may be suggested that a further appointment at one of our clinics would be more appropriate – this will depend on your condition. All patients will be offered the opportunity for a further review consultation if required. This may be a telephone consultation or in one of our clinics. 

Face-to-face appointments are available in our clinics for further assessment, for rehabilitation and treatments such as injections.  We have clinics in several places across Leeds and the surrounding area.  Our main clinic sites are:  

• Wetherby Health Centre 
• East Leeds Health Centre 
• Armley Moor Health Centre 
• Beeston Hill Health Centre 
• Meanwood Health Centre 
• Wharfedale General Hospital

If you have an MSK condition, you can ask to see a First Contact Physiotherapist at your GP surgery. You can discuss your problem with a First Contact Practitioner or a GP who can work with you to decide if a referral to the MSK service is appropriate. The MSK team are here to help people with MSK conditions manage their symptoms as well as possible.  We can accept referrals from any Leeds GP practices.

If you are a GP, Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) or First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) looking for information please access Leeds Health Pathways

Attending for your appointment

There will be a physical examination as part of your assessment. The clinician will need to see the  area where you have symptoms and ask you to do some movements. Please dress in loose fitting clothing which can be  easily removed  or rolled up to allow for this.

If you are unable to attend an appointment

Please contact us with 48 hours’ notice if possible. This will give us time to arrange  an appointment with another person waiting to see us.

Failure to attend

If you do not attend an appointment without notice then we will  offer one further opportunity to have an appointment. If you do not attend for a second time you will then be discharged from the service.

Patient Initiated Follow Up  ( PIFU)

PIFU is an NHS England policy. This is when a patient initiates an appointment when they need one, based on their symptoms and individual circumstances.

This helps empower patients to manage their own condition and plays a key role in enabling shared decision making and supported self-management. 

Click here for more information.

If it is agreed you are on a PIFU list, you have open access for further input for the problem you were referred with.

If you require further treatment or advice please call 0113 843 1909 or email leedsmsk.helpline@nhs.net to arrange an appointment.  

If we have had no contact from you after 6 months we will discharge you from the service.

Help us get it right

If you have a complaint, concern, comment or compliment please let us know by speaking to a member of our staff. We learn from your feedback and use the information to improve and develop our services.

If you would like to talk to someone outside the service contact the Patient Experience Team on 0113 220 8585, Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm or email lch.pet@nhs.net

We can make this information available in Braille, large print, audio or other languages on request.