Category: Health Policy

Versus Arthritis Cost-of-living crisis

On World Arthritis Day, Versus Arthritis sought to shine a light on the crisis people with arthritis are facing this winter — by calling on the Prime Minister to take urgent action to protect them. 

In September, Versus Arthritis surveyed almost 4,000 people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions to ask how the cost-of-living crisis was affecting them, and the results were staggering: 94% of people saying that cold weather has a negative impact on their condition, but 84% are using less fuel because of rising costs.…

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Another new Government

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

Local and national

Another new Government, another new(ish) Secretary of State for Health. From an MSK perspective, what should their priorities be? There are a few things that need to happen nationally, but my first thoughts are that we don’t now need a multitude of new government targets and promises. A lot of what is needed is local and local systems need to be given the space to deliver.

At a local level there are three things I think Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) need to do to deliver on MSK.…

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A week to focus on health equalities

I was delighted last week to be able to join NHS England’s Health Inequalities Improvement Board to present on the importance of MSK health for equalities. I am also delighted that Bola Owolabi, Director of NHS England’s National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, has written the guest blog for the October issue of our newsletter.

We’ve chosen to highlight equalities during Bone and Joint Week this year because it is critically important. Poor MSK health contributes to and exacerbates health inequalities. MSK is fundamental to our ability to work, socialise, move, eat a good diet – in fact, all the things that enable us to stay healthy.…

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Guest blog: Narrowing the gap

Bola Owolabiby Bola Owolabi, Director, National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme

Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups within society. They arise because of the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. These conditions influence how we think, feel and act and can impact both our physical and mental health and wellbeing.

This #BoneJointWeek I am delighted to see the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance’s commitment to taking action to narrow musculoskeletal health inequalities, particularly with regards to listening to the experiences of underserved communities and working in partnership to improve care.…

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Thinking wider about workforce

I saw a tweet this morning from a local provider partnership seeking exercise instructors willing to train in falls management. The challenge of workforce is ever present in the NHS right now. I think we need to think more creatively and use the breadth of the workforce we have if we are ever to deliver on our ambition to improve the MSK health of the population and ensure excellent services for those who need them.

Community MSK is the backbone of MSK.…

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Community-powered MSK Health?

It’s been exciting in the last two years to be working with the BestMSK Health team at NHS England, and now also with MSK improvement work in Wales. There’s been lots of talk about co-production, self-management support, reducing inequalities and a focus on prevention. The direction is very much one that ARMA can support. Then I read A Community Powered NHS from New Local and I started to wonder if we are being brave enough, going far enough, thinking big enough.…

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Decision support tools published

Shared decision making toolsNHS England has published a suite of eight decision support tools covering varying conditions along with guidance on how to use them and evaluating the impact.

Four of these relate to MSK conditions:

Decision support tools (DSTs), also called patient decision aids, support shared decision making (SDM) by making treatment, care and support options explicit, providing evidence-based information about the associated benefits and risks, and helping people to consider what matters most to them in relation to the possible outcomes, including doing nothing.…

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Four Nation Strategy for Pain Management

The Faculty of Pain Medicine is pleased to announce the publication of a Four Nation Strategy for Pain Management.

This framework, published 30 June 2022, integrates pain management across other stakeholder sectors of health and social care, and aims to help coordinate, deliver and further develop care using resources and pathways already available. It was developed in response to the changes occurring in health care across all four nations and increasing awareness of the importance of pain management.

A range of patient and professional organisations were involved in the development of this strategy document, including ARMA, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, British Pain Society, British Psychological Society, Burning Nights, Chronic Pain Policy Coalition, Pain Concern, The Patient Voice of the British Pain Society, Physiotherapy Pain Association, Pain Nurse Network, Pelvic Pain Support Network, Royal College of Anaesthetists, and Royal Pharmaceutical Society.…

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Constellations, not stars

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

Last week I attended a National Voices conference about ICS and the voluntary sector. One thing that really struck a chord with me was a speaker outlining his principles for collaborative success *:

  • Mission before organisation
  • Trust, not control
  • Promote others not yourself
  • Build constellations not stars

By the time you read this, the new statutory integrated care systems will have some into existence. If they follow these principles, they could contribute a lot to improve health services.…

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