NHS England has launched a new programme with the aim of sustaining the delivery of evidence-informed, personalised, high-quality integrated healthcare of value to all. This new initiative, part of the Pathways for Better Health Programme, significantly increases the resource to support MSK service delivery.
The programme covers the breadth of MSK including orthopaedics, rheumatology and pain, spanning primary secondary and community services. You can watch the launch event here.
The programme has ten workstreams, each led by a relevant clinical specialist:
- Diagnostics
- Orthopaedics
- Rheumatology
- Primary and Community MSK Provision
- Spinal Services
- Falls, Fragility Fractures and Osteoporosis
- Data, Validation and Coding
- Communications and Developing MSK Networks
- Supporting those with Long Term MSK Conditions
- Outpatients
There is the intention to ensure that the programme is coproduced involving the range of stakeholders including people with lived experience and patient organisations. The aim is to support local system leads to deliver MSK services in line with the programme, rather than to mandate a specific service model.
The primary and community workstream, led by Chris Mercer, will be vital to the success of the programme overall. The other workstreams all depend on effective support in primary and community services. Having all the pieces of work in one programme will enable co-ordination. At the launch event Chris talked about the potential for the new White Paper to start breaking down some of the boundaries in the NHS and the need for MSK leadership across all levels of the system.
Summing up, Andrew Bennett, National Clinical Director for MSK, encouraged everyone to engage with the programme as it develops. The work has only just begun. This will not be a top-down initiative. It will be based on collaboration and coproduction.
Look out for updates in future ARMA newsletters and on twitter using #BestMSKHealth.