Your appointment

Your first appointment will last up to 40 minutes, and you'll usually meet a physiotherapist or an advanced clinical practitioner. If you would specifically like to see a man or a woman, let us know before your appointment, and we’ll do our best to arrange it.

You and your clinician will discuss your symptoms, health history, daily activities, and work. You’ll also do some simple movements to find out what’s causing your pain.

You’ll also be asked what you would like to achieve while working with us, so we can make a plan to help you reach your goals. The plan might include advice and exercises to help you take care of yourself. If we think you need more tests or treatments, your care can be escalated to one of our advanced practitioners or the Orthopaedic consultant team.

Don’t be afraid to tell your healthcare professional if you don’t understand what they’ve said; ask them to explain things to you again.

Feel free to bring a family member or friend to your appointment. They can ask questions too, and help you remember what is said and take notes.

What should I wear?

The clinician might ask you to remove or roll up clothes to see the problem area, like your knee, back, or shoulder. We advise wearing loose, comfy clothes. If it’s a knee problem, shorts are a good idea. If it’s your back or shoulder, wear a vest under your clothes to make it easier.

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.

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 each option so you can decide what’s best for you.

Personalised Care in Nottinghamshire

We want to give you care that’s right for you. This means:

• Learning what’s important to you.
• Giving you clear information about your condition.
• Letting you help decide the best care and treatment for you

The "About Me" form

Before your appointment, fill out an "About Me" form and bring it with you. This will help your doctor or therapist understand you better and make the best plan for your care.

By the end of your appointment, you’ll work together to answer these questions:

• What is my main problem?
• What do I need to do?
• Why is it important?

NHS app and Patient Knows Best

Sherwood Forest Hospitals are encouraging all patients to use the NHS App to securely access their personal health record.

Working with the NHS-approved platform, Patient Knows Best (PKB), you can access a range of hospital information.

Within our service, we use the NHS App and PKB to:  

• Access a library of self-help information whilst you are waiting for a referral
• Access and add to your B-Fit Digital Care Plan (if invited).

We recommend you register for the NHS App and PKB prior to your appointment with us.  

For more details on how to register for the NHS App and PKB, please visit our NHS app page.

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 self-referral form (opens in new window). 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

• Phone: 01623 484820
• Email: mskreferralhub-admin@nottshc.nhs.uk 

Patient Advisory Liaison Service

• Phone: 0115 993 4542
• Email: PALSandComplaints@nottshc.nhs.uk

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.