– but only if we choose to take it
by Adrian Bradley, CEO, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA)
I hope you are enjoying the summer.
This month we are pleased to have a guest blog from Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Versus Arthritis.
In her blog, Deborah rightly identifies the huge opportunity presented by the 10 Year Health Plan for England and the serious risk that MSK conditions continue to be sidelined.
As the alliance representing about forty diverse patient organisations and professional bodies across the MSK community, ARMA welcomes the Plan’s ambition but we are under no illusions. Ambition without action won’t deliver the change needed for the 17 million people in England living with MSK conditions. Poor MSK health is a pressing public health challenge. MSK conditions are a major driver of pain, disability and long-term sickness absence, yet they continue to be overlooked in national policy and local planning.
MSK health must be central to plans for integrated, person-focused neighbourhood care. Pain, mobility challenges and fatigue don’t exist in isolation – they impact mental health, limit employment, and worsen other conditions. Yet MSK services too often sit outside the spotlight, non-prioritised and underfunded.
We strongly support the call for a national MSK Modern Service Framework. Without clear consistent guidance, people with arthritis and other MSK conditions will continue to face unequal access to diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and support. Better data is vital too – Integrated Care Boards can’t meet needs they don’t understand.
This is not about adding to the NHS’s to-do list. It’s about delivering more effective and timely care through early intervention, community based person centred provision, and recognising the interconnected nature of long-term conditions. The vision of Neighbourhood Health Centres holds real promise, but only if MSK is fully embedded in those plans.
Now is the time to get MSK health right. ARMA stands ready to work with government, NHS leaders and fellow charities like Versus Arthritis to ensure the 10 Year Plan delivers on its promise – not just in words, but in real change for people’s lives. Let’s not let this opportunity slip away.