First MSK Community Appointment Day brings health and community services together in Wellington
The first MSK Community Appointment Day (CAD) in Wellington brought together clinical care, rehabilitation and community support under one roof at Everyone Active Wellington Sports Centre, helping residents access a range of health and wellbeing services in a single visit.
The event saw 112 patients attend for musculoskeletal (MSK) appointments, with residents receiving specialist physiotherapy assessment and rehabilitation support, alongside the opportunity to connect with a wide range of local services and organisations.
Patient feedback was extremely positive, with the overall experience rated an average of 4.75 out of 5. A total of 87.5% of patients rated their experience 5 out of 5, while 91.7% said they would be likely or extremely likely to recommend the CAD to others.
A different approach to MSK appointments
Residents attending the day received an assessment from the musculoskeletal physiotherapy team, followed by guidance from physical therapy specialists to help them understand and carry out their prescribed exercises.
The approach was designed to give patients more than just an assessment, helping them better understand their condition, take an active role in their recovery and connect with services that could benefit their wider health and wellbeing.
This was reflected in patient feedback, with 89.6% of respondents saying that a lot or every effort was made to understand them, listen to them and involve them in shared decision-making.
Following their appointment, patients were invited to visit the Community Village, which was set up and coordinated with support from SASP.
Connecting clinical care with community services
The Community Village brought together a wide range of local organisations, giving patients the opportunity to speak directly with services, ask questions and discover what support and activities were available in their community.
Organisations represented on the day included SASP, Age UK, The King's Arms Community Hub, Talking Therapies, the Primary Care Network, Everyone Active, Healthwatch, Ark at Egwood, Armed Forces Outreach, Connect to Work, Adult Social Care, Thrive, Centre for Sustainable Energy and Somerset FT Cancer Services.
Together, they showcased opportunities and resources covering physical activity, wellbeing, social connection and wider aspects of everyday life.
SASP helped to set up and organise the Community Village, bringing organisations together to ensure people attending the appointment day could access help extending beyond their clinical MSK care.
The Community Village reflected the strength and diversity of Wellington's local support network, giving organisations the opportunity to collaborate and engage with residents at a time when they were already focused on their health and wellbeing.
Supporting recovery beyond the appointment
The aim of the day was not only to provide MSK assessment and rehabilitation, but to help people feel more confident in managing their condition beyond their appointment.
By bringing clinical teams and community organisations together, the format created an opportunity to connect people with relevant services at the right time. Whether someone was looking for opportunities to become more active, support with their wellbeing, help to manage other aspects of daily life or simply information about what was available locally, they could explore a range of options in one place.
The day also supported a more flexible approach to follow-up care, with half of patients placed on a Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) pathway, giving them greater control over when they needed further clinical support.
The impact was also seen at a service level, with the Wellington waiting list reduced to just 30 unbooked patients following the appointment day, effectively eliminating the existing wait for MSK appointments in the area. Significant improvements were also seen within the Dene Barton Hospital waiting list.
A positive example of partnership working
Holding the appointment day in Wellington highlighted the benefits of delivering care and support within a community setting.
Rather than expecting residents to navigate different services independently, the Community Village brought organisations together in one place, making it easier for people to find and access relevant support.
The event demonstrated how clinical services, community organisations and physical activity providers can work together to support people more holistically, while creating stronger connections between healthcare and the communities they serve.
One physiotherapist involved in the day said:
"It's something that works really well for us, as we know there is a much greater chance of patients committing to their recovery when they engage with the many services present at today's event, such as the exercise classes run by SASP, and also if they can receive support for many other aspects of their day-to-day lives."
A huge thank you to everyone involved in planning and delivering Wellington's first MSK Community Appointment Day, and to the organisations and residents who took part.
The success of the day reflected the strength of local partnership working and a shared commitment to helping people access the services, information and opportunities they need to stay active, informed and well.