CEO Update | ARMA

A Christmas Message from ARMA’s CEO

by Adrian Bradley

As the year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on my first six months in post. Since joining ARMA in June, I’ve met almost all our members and associate members. I’ve been heartened by your generosity, honesty, and commitment to improving MSK health for millions of people.

I’ve drunk more tea and coffee than is advisable (although some were ‘virtual’, so they don’t count), heard brilliant ideas from every corner of the MSK community, and come across more jargon, acronyms and abbreviations than I knew existed.…

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Beyond the NHS: A vision for neighbourhood health

by Adrian Bradley, CEO, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA)

At ARMA, our vision for neighbourhood health goes far beyond the NHS. The NHS is, of course, a vital part of our lives and a cornerstone of care but health is not created in hospitals or clinics alone. It is shaped in the places we live, work and connect, in our homes, schools, workplaces, parks, and communities. Neighbourhood health is about recognising that wellbeing depends as much on the social, economic, and environmental conditions around us as it does on clinical services.…

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Better MSK health is the foundation of our future prosperity and wellbeing

by Adrian Bradley, CEO ARMA

The link between health and economic activity has become a central focus of policy. New analysis from the ONS and NHS England, highlighted by the King’s Fund, shows how health and work are closely connected. Poor health reduces employment and productivity, and long NHS waiting lists hold people back from returning to work. Improving musculoskeletal (MSK) health will undoubtedly deliver major economic benefits. Fewer people in pain means fewer absences, more people able to stay in work, and greater productivity.…

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Reflections on opportunities for better MSK health

by Adrian Bradley, CEO ARMA

Throughout my first three months in post, I have been constantly struck by the breadth, diversity, expertise and impact of ARMA’s member organisations. Last week I had the pleasure of being a guest of the British Orthopaedic Association at their Annual Congress in Liverpool. Under the theme of ‘Preventing Harm & Transforming Lives’, I attended inspiring sessions on topics as far ranging as integrating orthopaedic clinical practice with support for patients’ lifestyle modification, reducing unnecessary hospital stays in arthroplasty, calls for a national ACL injury prevention programme and, perhaps most soberingly, our preparedness for war.…

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A turning point for MSK health

– 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.…

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ARMA Newsletter blog July 2025

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.…

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Looking Ahead, Together

by Adrian Bradley, CEO ARMA

Firstly, I would like to add my voice to the chorus of appreciation and good wishes for Sue Brown who left the organization recently after eight years of distinguished leadership. I feel extremely fortunate to be inheriting such a strong legacy of relationships, influence and achievements. Sue can be rightly proud of her contribution, and I thank her for her service and her support to me during the handover period.

I also want to thank the Board of Trustees for their confidence in me, and I look forward to working with them to lead ARMA to continued success.…

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Sadness and Pride

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.…

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Act Now one year on

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

We have just passed the one year anniversary of the publication of our Act Now report on MSK health inequalities. A good time to evaluate the success of the project. It’s clear that we have made an impact. That people are acting on the key messages and recommendations. It is also clear just how far we still have to go.

When we started the project we were clear that this was not about producing a report.…

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Getting it right for MSK – a win for everyone

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

I’m writing this at the end of a busy week with the launch of our latest ICB report and three significant Government announcements about the NHS. I’m reflecting on what it means for addressing the issues raised by our analysis of ICB Joint Forward plans.

The report highlights that ICBs are not paying sufficient attention to MSK at a strategic level. The majority either don’t consider it at all or focus only on one or two parts of the system in silos.…

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