Support for muscles, bones and joints
Problems with muscles, bones and joints have a habit of getting worse if they’re not identified and treated.
Have your employees, and their eligible partners and dependants, 18 and over, access care without delay. Through HBSUK’s online platform and multi-disciplinary team of muscle, bone and joint specialists, we’re giving your employees fast access to online appointments with the right clinician - whether that's a physio or specialist.
- no need for a GP referral first
- video or phone appointment with a physiotherapist or specialist
- self-referral online 24/7
Our muscles, bones and joints service is included as standard as part of Advance (AXA Health’s corporate healthcare scheme).
98% of members needing an online physio appointment were offered one, within 1 working day1
Straight to the right expert
Problems with muscles, bones and joints are a major cause of sickness absence. In the UK alone, sore backs, joint pain, strained muscles and similar issues are the second most common cause of long-term sickness absence and third most common for short-term absences in 20222.
We understand it’s important that employees have access to the right support to help their recovery.
Our digital first approach is based on clinical evidence, getting your employees to the right clinician first time to help speed up their recovery, delivering better health for your people and better value for your corporate scheme.
Our muscles, bones and joints service gives your employees fast access to online appointments with the right
clinician that include:
• standard physiotherapy (within 24hrs)3
• advanced level physiotherapy (within 48hrs)3
• orthopaedic specialists (within 72hrs)3
89% of members needing an online specialist appointment were offered one, within 3 working days1
How it works
Advice that fits busy lives
Your employees won’t have to take time out for a GP appointment. Whether it’s during a lunch break or after the school run, as soon as there’s a problem, your employees can simply visit your Wellbeing Hub to self-refer.
Fast access to the right support
They’ll be guided to complete an online clinical assessment with muscle, bone and joint specialists HBSUK.
The outcome will direct them to book an online appointment with the right clinical expert, whether that’s a physiotherapist, advanced level physiotherapist or an orthopaedic specialist³. All without the need for a GP referral first.
Expert care and guidance
The clinician will recommend next steps be that at home exercises or advise further treatment or tests - they’ll help you choose which. That could be a face-to-face appointment, a scan or an x-ray where any outpatient limits or contribution an employee normally pays towards treatment each year will apply.
Control of their care
Your employees are in control with 24/7 access to online service, they can start their journey, manage their appointments; book, rearrange or cancel as needed. They can enter details of their condition ahead of their conversation with the clinician, to get the most out of their appointment.
Your employees will be able to view any scans online during their follow-up appointment, as well as see their notes and any referral letters, and follow their tailored exercise routine at any time online.
“I found the portal easy to navigate, the video call easy to attend and the notifications clear”
AXA Health member
Our muscles, bones and joints service is included in all corporate health plans
Your employees don’t need to worry about their online appointments, within the digital service, affecting their out-patient limit, or the number of physiotherapy sessions they’re entitled to under your plan, and excess doesn't apply to their online appointments.
Find out more about our how an AXA Health Corporate Healthcare Scheme can support your business
1 Source: AXA Health members who accessed the online service from 1st August 2022 – 31st July 2023
2 Source: Health and wellbeing at work 2022, CIPD, 2022
3 Online appointment with; physiotherapist within 24hrs, advanced level physiotherapist within 48hrs and orthopaedic specialist within 72hrs. Mon- Fri 8am - 8pm.
Subject to market conditions, due to HBSUK clinicians also working for the NHS.