Wirral MSK Self‑referral Review – February 2026

04 February 2026

This Wirral MSK self‑referral review presents findings from calls made by Healthwatch Wirral to residents who self-referred into the Wirral Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. These calls aimed to understand people’s experiences of the self‑referral process, including how easy it was to use and whether they faced any accessibility challenges.

As part of this Wirral MSK self‑referral review, a total of 133 patients were contacted. Of these, 32 did not respond and 11 declined to participate, resulting in 90 completed responses.

Overall, the findings indicate that most patients found the self-referral process straightforward and easy to complete. However, some reported difficulties with digital-only channels, highlighting the importance of offering multiple referral options to avoid worsening health inequalities for those who struggle digitally. Respondents generally reported good accessibility to service locations and expressed positive sentiments about staff friendliness, which contributed to a smoother referral experience.

If you have a musculoskeletal condition involving the bones, muscles, nerves, or joints that has been present for more than 6 weeks, patients from select GP practices can self‑refer to the MSK Service without seeing a GP below: