Back pain is being targeted by a new hospital service.

Patients suffering from spinal pain and stiffness are set to reap the rewards of the service being introduced by Worthing and Southlands Hospital Trust.

The move is part of a new way of working, being developed by the trust, which emphasises the importance of educational programmes to reduce the number of hospital referrals for back pain.

A trust spokeswoman said: "By focusing strongly on prevention as well as treatment it is hoped that patients will benefit, firstly by not getting injured and, if they do, from a reduction in pressure on these services.

"More than 80 per cent of people will suffer at least one episode of back pain in their life.

"This costs the NHS more than £4 billion pounds a year to treat and is the second most common reason for people taking time off work."

As part of the new service, consultant physiotherapist Chris Mercer has been appointed to implement a pain management programme for patients.

Mr Mercer said: "Worthing and Southlands Hospitals will be leading developments in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of back pain."