A painful joint problem can seriously impair your quality of life, and having to wait months to see a specialist can mean time off work and not being able to take part in the activities you enjoy. Swift diagnosis and appropriate treatment are fundamental to a full recovery, and this is the ethos at the heart of The Joint Clinic.

Set up in September 2003, the private clinic operates from Droitwich Hospital and BUPA South Bank in Worcester, with five expert consultants working as a team to get patients back on their feet as quickly as possible. Each specialises in treating a different area of the body, so patients are assured of seeing the most appropriate consultant for their individual problem.

Patients are usually referred by their GP, although the clinic also accepts self-referrals. The Joint Clinic's aim is to get the problem solved at the outset, meaning patients can get on with their lives without needing to go back to their busy GPs for a re-referral.

"Instead of thinking about the patient in terms of 'a knee', for example, The Joint Clinic treats them as a person with specific needs," explains Susan Williams, the clinic's business manager and married to consultant David Selvey. "Each patient has different expectations: for some, the main objective is simply to be able to work again, while others - like professional sportsmen or women - need to get back to a high level of fitness."

Excellent results and a growing reputation have led patients from around the world, including plenty of ex-pats based in Europe, to choose treatment from The Joint Clinic, as well as people from all corners of the UK. The clinic has built up a particularly good relationship with GPs in the Midlands area, with doctors happy to refer patients in anticipation of a favourable outcome.

"We would also like to let employers know that if their staff are treated by The Joint Clinic, they are likely to be able to return to work quickly," says Susan, drawing attention to the loss of productivity caused to companies each year by back and neck conditions in particular. "People often let these conditions go on for too long, visiting various chiropractors and osteopaths in the hope of a solution. Coming straight to us will mean quick and appropriate treatment and will possibly save them money overall."

That said, The Joint Clinic is keen to work in conjunction with other practitioners to find the best treatment for each patient. Avoiding surgery where possible, the consultants take a holistic approach and may recommend, for example, additional treatment by an osteopath.

The clinic has treated people of all ages and from all walks of life, from youngsters with skiing injuries to elderly arthritis sufferers. The philosophy is that general well-being improves dramatically after treatment, and Susan concludes: "Patients do have a choice about where they are treated - and it makes sense to choose a clinic where they are guaranteed to receive excellent care from dedicated specialists."

The Joint Clinic, Droitwich Spa Tel: 01905 799116