NHS England is making £4.6 million of its Getting It Right First Time funding available for commissioned MSK teams with waiting times of over 18 weeks for appointments, to fund local initiatives and interventions.
The funding follows national roll out of the MSK Community Delivery Programme in May 2026 with an initial £3.2 million. The additional amount is provided, NHSE states, to enable local systems to prioritise timely access to care.
The announcement accompanies the publication of NHSE’s new adult community MSK service specification, intended to support the delivery of high quality, timely, and consistent care across England. It sets out a series of minimum standards services should meet to improve quality, reduce waiting times, and promote the best outcomes for patients.
GIRFT clinical lead for community MSK Andy Bennett, said: “This service specification has been frequently requested as we’ve carried out our targeted support work, so it’s great to see it published to help guide the delivery and improvement of services nationally. Alongside the £4.6m of funding for waiting lists initiatives, this presents a fantastic opportunity for cMSK colleagues to launch initiatives which can make a real difference for their patients.”
The deadline given for submissions is 14 August, 2026, with decisions about successful bids expected to be made in September. For more information on the bidding process, NHSE suggests getting in touch via email at england.girftmsk@nhs.net.
Wider trend: Digital in MSK services
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB has awarded a contract with a total value of £206,692 to getUBetter for a digital MSK self-management platform. The platform is intended to support patients across primary, secondary, and community care in the region with common MSK injuries and conditions. Patients may be directed to the app at any point in the MSK management pathway, for help to self-manage their recovery and general health. getUBetter is a Class 1 medical device and is DTAC certified, the ICB notes, with the platform having been locally configured to the ICB MSK pathway.
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust has issued a prior information notice sharing its intent to procure an MSK physiotherapy AI service. Seeking a UK-based service using AI to drive care delivery, the trust outlines requirements for a “readily available, comprehensive, end-to-end clinical pathway for both new and existing patients”, offering an alternative to traditional care pathways. The service procured will incorporate a hybrid model, comprising both AI physio appointments and virtual appointments with HCPC registered physiotherapists under the employ of the contracted provider.
A study into the impact of a digital exercise programme designed to support adults managing MSK problems has found that it provides similar outcomes to face-to-face physiotherapy. The platform, Good Boost, provides digital personalised therapeutic exercises to support those living with long-term conditions. Data from 40,000 exercise sessions highlighted that at 12 and 26-week follow-ups, “more than a third of people were experiencing less pain” and around 47 percent achieved “clinically meaningful improvement” in physical function. More than 65 percent also reported a positive improvement in their condition.
