PATIENTS requiring musculoskeletal treatment will soon be able to see a specialist in Skegness.

NHS Lincolnshire has awarded the contract to run a Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (CATS) to Care UK.

Clinics operated by Care UK will be established at nine existing NHS sites across the county including Skegness, Louth and Boston offering treatment for a range of conditions such as sports injuries or back, joint and ligament pain.

Patients will be referred through their GP and will be seen by a consultant led team of physiotherapists, usually within 14 days of the initial referral.

Patients will be able to choose the clinic which is closest to them at a time which is most convenient for them. Diagnostic facilities will also be available at the three central clinics in Louth, Lincoln and Spalding and will include MRI, X-Ray and Ultrasound.

Jim Heys, Deputy Director of Strategic Planning, NHS Lincolnshire said: "By introducing this innovative service across Lincolnshire, we are confident that patients will benefit from faster diagnosis and treatment. With strong links with existing services and facilities, more patients will receive appropriate and timely onward care for musculoskeletal conditions."