The number of physiotherapy jobs in the Sheffield NHS is to increase this year as the trust seeks to improve community physiotherapy across the area.

NHS Sheffield has awarded a multi-million pound contract to Sheffield Primary Care Trust Provider Services and the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust. The Sheffield Telegraph reports that the contract was drafted following recommendations from GP's and other healthcare professionals in the area that their patients required better standards and more access to community physiotherapy services.

The new system will consolidate physiotherapy services in the different parts of the city into one provider and will begin from the first of May this year. Previously, physiotherapy services were offered by different providers in different parts of the city. This was criticised by GP's and others because patients received varying levels of service, as well as different waiting times depending on the area of Sheffield they lived in.

Dr Ted Turner, a GP at Shire Green medical centre in Sheffield and a stakeholder of the service re-design said: "Patients with musculoskeletal problems often need access to physiotherapy within a time scale of days or weeks and the physiotherapy service was due for redesign to improve its efficiency. Many GP's across the city have had input into how the service should be best structured and we now anticipate a fairer and swifter service for our patients".

Under the new service, particular attention will be paid to 'Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy'. A familiar term to people in physiotherapy jobs, this type of care targets muscle and joint pain. Treatments that will be available in Sheffield include acupuncture, ultrasound, exercise treatment, manipulation, gym access and pain management programmes, all offered as deemed as appropriate to individual patient needs.

Director of Strategy at NHS Sheffield, Simon Kirk, said: "It is estimated that up to 30% of all GP consultations are about musculoskeletal conditions and that up to 60% of people who are on long-term sick leave cite musculoskeletal problems as the reason".