by Adrian Bradley, CEO ARMA
Welcome to the latest ARMA newsletter.
My first month has flown by. I have been delighted to meet many members, partners and stakeholders and to listen to your hopes, ambitions and concerns. I will continue to be in listening mode as we navigate our way towards creating our strategy for 2026 and beyond.
Several people have said to me how difficult it must be to start at such a time of change. It was forever thus. The fact that my third week saw the publication of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England is good fortune in my eyes. This is a pivotal moment. It presents an opportunity to reflect on where MSK sits in the policy agenda and to re-assess how we influence change.
I welcome the Government’s commitment to tackling health inequalities, to prevention and to neighbourhood health services. I am pleased to see many of the themes and recommendations from ARMA’s Act Now report reflected in the Plan, including a commitment to listening to the voice of patients and directing investment towards communities with the widest gap in healthy life expectancy.
I particularly welcome the Plan’s focus on delivering more care in community settings, an important step for the many people with MSK conditions who are currently waiting too long for the treatment and support they need. Progress through initiatives such as the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is encouraging, but further action and investment is needed.
However, I am disappointed that MSK barely gets a mention. There are 20 million reasons for it to be higher up the Government’s list of priorities. The Plan must translate into quality, tailored, supported self-management to help people live healthier, more independent lives for longer. MSK conditions are one of the leading causes of disability, long-term absence from work, and demand on both health and care services – yet too often, they are overlooked and underfunded.
To deliver on the ambitions of the Plan, the Government must recognise MSK as a priority area, with clear national leadership and resources. A dedicated national service framework is urgently needed to complement the Plan, ensuring MSK services are prioritised, integrated, and delivered effectively and equitably across the country.
ARMA will now take time to carefully review the details of the Plan, working closely with our members to understand its implications and explore the opportunities it presents. I look forward to turning ambition into action and helping make this plan a success for the 20 million people living with MSK conditions across the country.