MCAT Service

The Lewisham musculoskeletal community assessment and treatment service (MCATS) sees patients with non complexmusculoskeletal problems.

The service provides a one stop clinic for the assessment and treatment of a wide variety of simple musculoskeletal problems. Patients are seen and assessed by senior rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons or specialist physiotherapists and podiatrists.


Location

The musculoskeletal upper and lower limb clinics are held at Lewisham Hospital in either suite 2 or suite 3 which are both located on the 1st Floor of the hospital in the yellow zone.

The musculoskeletal spine clinics are held at Lewisham Hospital in suite 3 (1st Floor, yellow zone) and also on alternate weeks at the Waldron Health Centre (New Cross).

The musculoskeletal foot clinics are held at Lewisham Hospital in the Community Foot Health Services department in the blue zone.


Contact Details

Patients can contact the call centre on 020 8333 3216 or by email: LH.Appointments@nhs.net.


What conditions does the department treat?

There are four clinics:

  • Musculoskeletal upper limb clinic
  • Musculoskeletal lower limb clinic
  • Musculoskeletal spine clinic
  • Musculoskeletal foot clinic

The conditions seen within this service include osteoarthritis of the hip and knee (including those considering joint replacement), localised tendonitis such as tennis elbow and shoulder pain, foot pain, back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.


What services does the department provide?

Within the service patients may be treated with injections if appropriate or referred to physiotherapy. Splints and orthotics can be supplied. Patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis needing surgery may be placed directly on a surgical waiting list.

Patients identified as needing to be seen in a rheumatology, orthopaedic clinic or pain clinic can be referred on directly from the musculoskeletal service and patients will be given a choice of provider.


Who are the services for?

The musculoskeletal service sees all patients over the age of 16 years.


How can you get a referral?

Most referrals are received by general practitioners (GPs) and the service is only available to patients who have a Lewisham GP.


What else do you need to know?

  • All information should be included the appointment letter
  • Patients are asked to arrive on time for the appointment –allowing time for travelling, parking and making their way to clinic