This report from the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) contains an evidence-based assessment of the NHS from a workforce planning perspective, as well as an outline of the role Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) consultants could play in musculoskeletal care.
SEM consultants are experts in the management of musculoskeletal conditions in the general population and are trained in the use of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of illness and injury. Given the significant impact of MSK conditions on the health of the nation, the potential benefits of physical activity as a way to prevent and manage conditions, and the growing pressure on existing NHS services, FSEM are calling for:
- An increase in SEM consultant numbers
- An increase in SEM specialist training posts across all four nations
- SEM involvement in commissioning of MSK services nationally to build sustainability and diversity into the workforce