Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve musculoskeletal health, and how they will include chiropractors in this.

Improving health outcomes for the over 20 million people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in the United Kingdom forms a key part of the Government's missions to build a National Health Service fit for the future, and to kickstart economic growth.

We are making a start by delivering a joint Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England Getting It Right First Time MSK Community Delivery Programme, working with integrated care board leaders to reduce NHS community waiting times, improve data, metrics, and referral pathways.

Part of the recently published Elective Reform Plan also sets out funding to boost bone density scanning capacity. This will provide an estimated 29,000 extra scans per year, supporting improvements in early diagnosis and bone health.

Healthcare professionals play a vital prevention and early intervention role in supporting people to self-manage their MSK condition, and the Government recognises the role complementary and alternative medicine treatments such as chiropractic can play in supporting people. NHS England does not currently support or commission chiropractic care in the NHS.