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Orthopaedic Assessment Service

The Orthopaedic Assessment Service cares for people with muscle, bone and joint problems (often called musculoskeletal or MSK conditions). These include:

  • Back and spine problems
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Injuries to bones, muscles or joints
  • Some long-term conditions, including arthritis and other less common conditions

About the service

Our team includes:

  • GPs with a special interest in orthopaedics
  • Advanced physiotherapy practitioners
  • Advanced podiatry practitioners

We assess patients who are referred to orthopaedics and make sure they receive the right care as quickly as possible. Only patients who are likely to benefit from seeing a hospital consultant are referred on. This helps reduce waiting times.

Where to find us

Clinics run from 8:00am to 4:30pm at:

  • Braid Valley Care Complex, 86 Cushendall Road, Ballymena, BT43 6HB
  • McCaughey House, Whiteabbey Hospital, Doagh Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 9RH
  • Mid Ulster Hospital, Hospital Road, Magherafelt, BT45 5EX
  • Robinson Hospital, 23 Newal Road, Ballymoney, BT53 6HB

How to contact us

Orthopaedic Assessment Service (Administration Team)

Based in Ballymena.

Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm.

How to access the service

All orthopaedic referrals in the Northern Trust are managed through this service. This means your referral will be reviewed by our team before you are seen by an orthopaedic consultant.

Useful resources

NHS Orthopaedics
The British Orthopaedic Association
Arthritis Research UK
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy