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<p>No assessment has been made on the prevalence of National Health Service treatment
for back pain. In the instance that back pain continues, or is caused by a pre-existing
medical condition, treatment will be provided in line with the existing guidance.
The vast majority of people are successfully managed by their general practitioner
(GP) or via community services.</p><p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
(NICE) guidance ‘Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management’,
published in 2016 set out evidence based best practice in the management of the condition.
The guidance includes advice on pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches
to care. The guidance can be viewed at the following link:</p><p><a href="http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng59"
target="_blank">www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng59</a></p><p>As set out in the NHS Long
Term Plan, musculoskeletal conditions are responsible for a substantial amount of
poor health, and NHS England has committed to expand on work already undertaken to
ensure patients will have direct access to musculoskeletal first contact practitioners
(FCPs). 98% of sustainability and transformation partnerships have confirmed pilot
sites for FCPs and 55% of pilots are already underway. This will expand the number
of physiotherapists working in primary care networks, enabling people to see the right
professional first time, without needing a GP referral.</p>
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