by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA
This will be my last blog for this newsletter as I step down from the CEO role. Inevitably I’m reflecting on how things have changed in the over 8 years I’ve been in the role.
The position of MSK in NHS England and NHS Wales is stronger. In England we now have a co-ordinated workstream under GIRFT delivering across the spectrum of MSK – children and adults, primary, secondary and community, all MSK conditions. The resource is nothing like other NHS England programmes such as diabetes or cancer. But it’s a massive increase compared to 8 years ago. Wales now has an established MSK National Network to drive forward progress.
There’s an openness to some of ARMA’s key messages about multidisciplinary and cross system working, about co-production and putting patients at the centre. ARMA still has a role to play in reminding people about the importance of those things, but it feels much more like pushing at an open door. “We need ARMA to keep us honest,” as someone recently said to me.
ARMA also feels strong. It’s an organisation with a clear purpose and direction, with collaboration with members and stakeholders at the core. It delivers impact. It was a joy to attend the celebration of our inequalities inquiry one year on. To speak about the very real impact we can make in this challenging area and look forward to our next steps in driving this agenda.
So it is with both sadness and pride that I prepare to leave the organisation in the capable hands of my successor, Adrian Bradley. There are some major challenges and opportunities ahead in MSK. Although I am excited for my next venture there is an element of sadness that I won’t be involved in driving forward the next steps. I’m also proud of what we’ve achieved together over the last 8 years and of what I am handing over. I look forward to watching ARMA continue to grow its impact under new leadership.