Greater Manchester will be one of the areas which will be getting a funding boost to reducemusculoskeletal NHS waiting lists.
It is part of the government’s wider plan to join health and work and to tackle economic inactivity.
The move will see People with back, joint, and muscle issues living in areas with the worst waiting lists for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are set to be treated quicker and supported back into employment as the Government gets Britain working.
The funding will see each area receive up to £300,000 to treat one of the main drivers of economic inactivity, and is part of the Government’s Plan for Change which will put more money into people’s pockets and get the NHS back on its feet.
Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern MP, said:
“For too long people locked out of work with health issues have been forgotten about and denied the support they need to get well and get working.
“It’s stifling our economy and preventing those eager to progress in life from unleashing their full potential.
“This multi-million-pound funding boost means MSK patients across the country will get the help they need, as we give clinical leaders the resources to innovate, get people off waiting lists and get Britain working again.”
There are 2.8million people economically inactive due to long-term health and MSK is the second largest reason given, behind mental health. Around 646,000 people – around 1 in 4 (23%) – said MSK was their primary condition.
Waiting lists for MSK community services are the highest of all community waits in England, at 348,799 people in September 2024, with approximately 23.4 million working days in the UK being lost due to MSK conditions in 2022 alone.
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said:
“With prevention, early detection and treatment, we know that the 17 million people with musculoskeletal issues in England could better manage their conditions, improving their quality of life and enabling them to rejoin the workforce.
“Through the Plan for Change, the government is taking decisive action to drive down waiting lists, improve treatment options and boost the economy.”
