This week ARMA published the Act Now report of the Inquiry 
on Musculoskeletal Health Inequalities and Deprivation.
The report highlights the impact of social and economic determinants of health on those living with MSK conditions. People with MSK conditions in more deprived areas develop conditions earlier, have more complex cases, yet face far greater challenges in managing their MSK conditions and accessing quality MSK services.
Act Now aims to address the drivers of poor musculoskeletal health acting on people living in deprivation and crucially it brings a focus to the part health services across the UK can play to address inequalities.
The report provides practical advice and signposting for health systems, MSK services and practitioners in a position to shift the dial in the right direction and implement innovative strategies to overcome barriers to healthcare access and tackle unequal health outcomes in MSK health. It also spotlights organisations already implementing innovative ways to engage with under-served groups.
Key recommendations from the report include:
Getting closer to and knowing your community better – solutions such as moving services into community spaces make them more accessible to under-served groups from deprived areas.- Developing shared ownership of services through engagement and co-production.
- Using data to identify, tackle and monitor barriers to access and unequal health outcomes.
- Targeting intensive and tailored supported self-management where need is greatest.
You can read the full report here.
Please contact us at cmonaghan@arma.uk.net if you have any questions about the report or would like resources to help share the report with your own audiences.