Integrated musculoskeletal (MSK) service
Herts Valleys Integrated Musculoskeletal Service provided by Connect Health supports patients with conditions related to bones, soft tissues, muscles, joint and ligaments. They also help with other issues such as chronic pain, fatigue and postural stability.
Connect Health has a range of specialist clinicians including physiotherapists, hand therapists, pain specialists, podiatrists, GPs and consultants. They can assess, diagnose and treat patients in community locations such as GP surgeries, health centres and gyms - avoiding the need for hospital appointments.
About the musculoskeletal service
Many MSK problems such as back pain and joint pain can be successfully treated by a specialist MSK therapist in the community without people needing to go to a hospital for an appointment.
Connect Health offers some services that previously were only offered in a hospital. They have hospital specialists running clinics and the aim is that these clinics and services will expand. Connect Health has a range of specialists who can provide the following support:
- Physiotherapy
- Rheumatology
- Pain management
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
- Fibromyalgia
- Podiatry
- Hand therapy
- Off-the-shelf orthotics (to correct biomechanical foot issues)
- Postural stability (for patients over 65 who are at risk of a fall)
All GPs in west Hertfordshire now refer patients to Connect Health if they need help with a MSK related problem. Connect Health coordinates patients' care so that people are seen by the right person for their needs and in the right place.
Connect Health provides patients with the right advice and support to help recover. This might be a face-to-face appointment but it might also be telephone or online advice around self-care and exercises. The aim is to help patients start their rehabilitation as quickly as possible.
Accessing the service
Most patients will be referred into the service by their GP. When your GP refers you to Connect Health, experienced clinicians will look at the information provided to decide on the best way of meeting your needs. Often this will be in the community service but and if they feel that you need hospital care you will be contacted (usually within a week) to book a hospital appointment.
Even if you have been told previously (either by a hospital specialist or private clinic) that you should be referred directly to hospital, your GP will still need to refer you first to Connect Health so that your needs can be assessed. This may end up with you being treated within the community but Connect might also refer you back to the specialist if they feel this is appropriate.
Connect Health also provides some support for patients to help them recover from an operation. In these cases you may be referred into the service by your hospital consultant.
Appointments with Connect Health
If you use a mobile phone Connect Health will send you a text (SMS) message about your appointment. It is important that your GP knows your communication preferences (such as whether or not you use a mobile phone) so that they can pass this information to Connect Health. If you do not have a mobile phone or access to the internet Connect Health will contact you using your landline or by post.
Your appointment with Connect Health might not necessarily be face to face. Connect Health might instead arrange a telephone consultation to talk to you about how best to organise your care.
Connect Health also has a web portal that you can log on to securely to find out about and manage your appointments and see electronic copies of your letters. Patients have found this service very useful.
Connect Health Clinics
|
St Albans & Harpenden |
St Albans Hospital (Maple Therapy Suite), Waverley Rd, St Albans |
Monday to Friday |
|
St Albans & Harpenden |
The Lodge Surgery, Normandy Road, St Albans |
Thursday |
|
St Albans & Harpenden |
Colney Medical Centre, 45-47 Kings Road, London Colney, |
Monday, Tuesday, Friday |
|
Watford & Three Rivers |
The Avenue Clinic, The Avenue, Watford |
Monday to Friday |
|
Watford & Three Rivers |
Sheepcot Medical Centre, 6 Cunningham Way, Watford |
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday |
|
Watford & Three Rivers |
Bushey Medical Centre, London Road, Watford |
Monday to Friday |
|
Watford & Three Rivers |
William Penn Leisure Centre, Shepherds Lane, Mill End, Rickmansworth |
Monday to Friday |
|
Watford & Three Rivers |
Chorleywood Health Centre, 15 Lower Rd, Chorleywood |
Tuesday |
|
Dacorum |
Wolsey House, Wolsey Road, Hemel Hempstead |
Monday to Friday |
|
Dacorum |
Kings Langley Surgery, The Nap, Kings Langley |
Monday to Friday |
|
Dacorum |
Manor Street Surgery, Manor St, Berkhamstead |
Monday |
|
Dacorum |
Gossoms End Community Hospital, Victory Road, Berkhamsted |
Monday to Thursday |
|
Hertsmere |
Grove Medical Centre, 39 Theobald St, Borehamwood |
Tuesday, Thursday |
|
Hertsmere |
The Venue Leisure Centre, 1 Elstree Way, Borehamwood |
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday |
|
Hertsmere |
Highview/Annandale Surgery, High St, Potters Bar |
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday |
|
Hertsmere |
Gateways Surgery (Red House Group), 17 Andrew Close, Shenley, Radlett |
Monday, Tuesday |
Contacting Connect Health
You can contact Connect Health in the following ways:
Telephone: 01442 913 356
Find out more
We have produced a patient information leaflet that explains more about the service by providing answers to questions that we are frequently asked about the Integrated MSK service provided by Connect.
You can find out more through the Connect Health website which has information about where clinics are located and also includes patient resources.