Your appointment

Prior to your appointment you may be asked to complete a questionnaire about your pain, general health and what matters to you. Please bring this with you.

Help can be provided for anyone with special needs, such as wheelchair use, deafness, visual disability, non-English speaking, etc. Please contact us before your first appointment if you think you may require additional help.

Transportation can only be provided on grounds of medical need and you will need to arrange this yourself through the hospital if needed.

If you need to change or cancel your appointment please either call or email us with as much notice as possible.

An image of a lady exercising on an outdoor gym equipment
Physiotherapy team

Physiotherapists help with problems in your joints, muscles, and soft tissues, like ligaments and tendons. We can see you one-on-one to give advice, teach you about your condition, and create exercises just for you. We also run group sessions where you can learn and exercise with others in different places around Mid-Nottinghamshire.

Musculoskeletal Clinical Assessment and Triage Service (MCATS) Team

This team has special health workers called advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs). They are experts in helping with joint and muscle problems. They can:

  • Check your condition carefully.
  • Arrange tests like blood tests, x-rays, or MRI scans if needed.
  • Give you injections or send you to other doctors, like orthopaedic, rheumatology, or pain specialists, if you need more treatment.

Your first appointment

At your first visit, you'll usually meet a physiotherapist or an advanced clinical practitioner. This appointment can take up to 40 minutes. Most of the time, you'll come to see us in person, but sometimes we can talk over the phone if needed.

We’ll ask you about your symptoms, daily activities, and work. You’ll also be asked to think about goals you'd like to reach while working with us. After that, you’ll do some simple movements so we can find out what’s causing your pain. Together, we’ll make a plan to help you feel better and reach your goals.

The plan might include advice and exercises to help you take care of yourself. If we think you need more tests, treatments, you care can be escalated to one of our advanced practitioners or to the Orthopaedic consultant team.

Seeing an Orthopaedic Doctor

If you need to see an Orthopaedic doctor, you will be referred via the MSK Hub. The doctor will check your condition, and you’ll talk about possible treatments, like surgery. The doctor will explain the good and bad sides of each option so you can decide what’s best for you.

You don’t need to see your GP to use the MSK Together service.

Self-Referral to Physiotherapy

You can refer yourself to physiotherapy by filling out a form. self referral form. You can get a printed copy from your GP surgery.

GP Referral

Your GP can also refer you to the MSK Hub. This lets you use our services, like physiotherapy, the MCATS team, or other treatments for MSK conditions.

First Contact Practitioners (FCPs)

You can get quick help for your MSK problem from FCPs. These are expert physiotherapists who work at GP surgeries. You don’t need to see your GP first to see them.

FCPs can:

  • Figure out what’s causing your MSK problem.
  • Give you advice and exercises to help you feel better.
  • Order blood tests or scans if needed.
  • Refer you to other services if you need more help.

You can book an appointment with an FCP by talking to the reception team at your GP surgery.

You can be seen at any of the following clinics:

  • Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Centre, Kirkby in Ashfield
  • Mansfield Community Hospital
  • King’s Mill Hospital
  • Newark Hospital.

For directions, visit the our hospitals page. 

Our support team is here to help you, if you have any queries or questions regarding your care, please get in touch.

MSK Together Partnership

Patient Advisory Liaison Service

If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please call the
service at least 48 hours prior to your appointment, so it can be offered to someone else.

Getting the most our of your appointment
What to expect in your face-to-face appointment

Contact us:

Email: MSKReferralHub-Admin@nottshc.nhs.uk 

Phone: 01623 484820

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