Grant for NHS to help people in pain back to work

Dr Chris Reid said the funds would help the team to develop a community assessment service for patients with musculoskeletal conditions

Cornwall's health service has been awarded government funding to help people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions to work.

Cornwall is one of 17 areas nationally to share £3.5m to treat people with back, joint, and muscle issues more quickly and be supported to stay in or return to their jobs.

NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) said 36,000 people in the county are out of work and not looking for work because of their ill health.

Almost as many - 33,400 people - are managing work-limiting health conditions in their jobs, it added.

'Community assessment service'

Dr Chris Reid, chief medical officer for the ICB said the £300,000 would help people to learn to self-manage MSK pain and attend group classes.

He said: "We are also developing a community assessment service that can offer injections, joint braces, advice and guidance."

He added there are already clinics where patients can meet surgical and physio teams and receive support before surgery, or be directed to alternative care.

The NHS said there are 2.8m people not working because of long-term ill-health and MSK is the second largest reason given, behind mental health.

About 646,000 people said MSK was their primary condition, it added.