Chiropractic and the NHS
Musculoskeletal disorders place a heavy burden on the NHS in the UK.
Traditionally, treatment for these disorders has been confined to hospital outpatient departments, but this is likely to change with the announcement by the Department of Health of an extension to the choice of provider of Musculoskeletal (MSK) services for back and neck pain, underpinned by the principles of extending patient choice, driving up quality, reducing cost and enabling innovation.
Chiropractors are well placed to deliver high quality evidence-based care for back and neck pain, as has already been illustrated by the highly successful, award-winning service in the NE Essex NHS Trust. Chiropractors from the British Chiropractic Association have recently been working with the NHS and the Department of Health to look at how commissioners can work locally with chiropractors and use chiropractors as Any Qualified Providers (AQP) for the treatment of back and neck pain.
Patients wishing to find out if chiropractic care is available through the NHS in their area should talk to their GP.