Allied Health Professional (AHP) Musculoskeletal Pathway Framework (National Minimum Standard)

Foreword

This document contains a national minimum standards framework applicable to Allied Health Professional (AHP) Musculoskeletal (MSK) Services across Scotland. The purpose of the document is to ensure that people requiring MSK services, receive the quality of care and the support they require, at the appropriate time by the appropriate person.

The framework has been developed by a group of MSK clinicians, originally providing a framework back pain pathway, which has further evolved to a minimum standard framework for AHP Musculoskeletal pathways. The need for separate work has been identified to define and develop AHP pathways for patients requiring early onward specialist assessment in Rheumatology (inflammatory disease) and to link closely with this and the national work relating to chronic pain standards and services.

Musculoskeletal conditions have been defined as problems to include a diversity of complaints and diseases localised in joints, bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, tendon sheaths, bursa and muscles.

The aim of the framework is to reduce the variance within MSK service provision and facilitate delivery of key quality policy directives, in particular the triple aim in the 2020 Vision of quality care, value and sustainability and a healthy population.

AHP's working in close collaboration with medical and other colleagues is absolutely necessary to improve Musculoskeletal services. The National Standards will provide a focus on the clinical pathway, the process and a supported clinician. Application of the framework will provide consistency of approach and consistency of outcome and also act as a facilitator for the AHP MSK 4 week target.

Senga Cree

National Lead MSK Pathways/ MSK Waiting Times