An online app to help people with back pain has been recommended to help tackle NHS waiting lists.
Early value assessment guidance published by the National Institute for Healthcare Excellence in Nice has given seven platforms the green light to help people aged 16 and over manage their conditions.
According to the NHS Long Term Plan, back pain is thought to be the biggest cause of disability, accounting for around 30% of GP visits each year.
According to figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there are 9.11 million people in the UK who suffer from long-term lower back pain.
Nice said he hopes the guidance will help reduce inequities in the care of musculoskeletal conditions.
It is also hoped that the measures will reduce NHS waiting lists, potentially reducing the number of people taking medication and waiting for GP or physiotherapy appointments.
On Thursday it was revealed that a record 7.75 million people in England are waiting to start NHS treatment at the end of August.
Mark Chapman, Interim Director of Health Technology and Digital Assessment at Nice, said: “More than two million people suffer from back pain every year and we are committed to providing treatment and care to those who need support with this debilitating back pain. “There is significant pressure on NHS services.” situation.
“The digital platforms recommended by our committee could provide the NHS with additional capacity to direct affected people to treatment from waiting lists, which vary in length from country to country.
“We believe these technologies have the potential to provide value for money to taxpayers while also enabling people with back pain to more quickly get the care they need, when and where they want. I believe there is.”
Recommended platforms for NHS use are ACT for PAIN, getUBetter, Hinge Health, Kaia, Pathway through Pain, selfBACK and SupportBack.
Some apps are designed for people with new back pain, while others are for people with chronic back pain.
The platform provides access to a multidisciplinary team, along with guided exercise videos and reminders for patients to complete tasks such as filling out surveys.
Health Minister Will Quince added: “These apps are another example of how we can leverage technology to help patients get the care they need, when they need it.
“By improving access to musculoskeletal services, they offer a wide range of services that enable patients to manage their back pain from the comfort of their own home, which forms a key part of our core disease strategy. To do.
“This will reduce pressure on the NHS, help reduce waiting lists, which is one of the Government’s top priorities, and help people live happier and healthier lives.”
Mr Nice said the technologies recommended in the guidance could be used provided they had the appropriate regulatory approvals and met the criteria within NHS England’s Digital Technology Assessment Criteria.
The watchdog also recommends low back pain self-management, exercise, manual therapy, psychotherapy, combined physical and psychological programs, and return-to-work programs.
Dennis Logan Rose, executive director of BackCare (National Back Pain Association), said: they can do to help themselves.
“Apps form an important part of the technology-driven world we live in, and if they can be used to help people with back pain live pain-free and active lives, this would be a huge step forward. It will be.”