Key Asks
Chiropractors to be mentioned as regulated healthcare professionals who are an integral part of neighbourhood MSK services
That ARMA calls for an expansion of the ‘evidence based exercise and rehab programmes' to include chiropractors as they are already working in communities across the country. Including chiropractors in neighbourhood MSK services is easy to enact as they are ready to be integrated into the national MSK strategy which would result in a wider array of community based rehabilitation available - something that is vital given that community MSK waiting times are continuing to rise.
The Neighbourhood Health Service to expand its list of who they currently work with to include chiropractic. Chiropractic care directly aligns with the goals of the neighbourhood MSK service and would create an immediate positive impact on local communities as chiropractors can start supporting NHS services immediately, as shown in a the BCA's recent Health Economics Report. This report found that 100,000 additional NHS appointments could be freed up every year if chiropractors were given AHP status and fully integrated into the NHS.
The time taken to train new staff and broaden the training of those already in the workforce could be saved by using chiropractors as they are ready to start supporting the NHS. Chiropractors do not need to be trained any further as they are already qualified so integration into the workforce could happen immediately.
The Neighbourhood Health Service should expand its current list of MSK professionals who are able to work in this model to include chiropractic as it directly aligns with the goals of the service and would have far more of an immediate positive impact on local communities.