Written question asked by James Cartlidge (Conservative) on Thursday, 29 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 February 2026. It was answered by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 February 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Musculoskeletal Disorders: Health Services

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to utilise existing community-based musculoskeletal healthcare providers to reduce GP workload and NHS waiting lists.

Answer: To reduce the general practice workload and National Health Service waiting lists, we are working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Musculoskeletal Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders to further reduce musculoskeletal community waiting times, which are the largest volume of all community waits, and improve data, metrics, and referral pathways to wider support services. This includes mapping and analysing the provision and role of physiotherapists as First Contact Practitioners in primary care.

Secondary information