Category: CEO Update

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

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most since joining ARMA has been the chance to meet so many of our members and partners. Every conversation is different. Some focus on NHS reform, others on prevention, research, rehabilitation, work and health, or supporting people to live well with long-term conditions.

Despite those different perspectives, I’ve noticed a common thread running through almost every discussion. It has prompted me to keep asking myself one simple question:

What do we actually mean when we talk about creating a healthier nation?

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

I welcome the new report from Arthritis UK and Deborah Alsina’s powerful blog. It shines a clear light on an issue ARMA and our members have raised consistently: access to care must be based on clinical need, not arbitrary thresholds.

For people living with musculoskeletal conditions, this is not an abstract policy debate. It is about pain, function and the ability to live a full life. When joint replacement is delayed or denied, people don’t just wait.…

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

As we approach publication of ARMA’s new five-year strategy, this feels like an important moment to pause and reflect on the state of musculoskeletal (MSK) health, our sector, and our Alliance.

The challenges are clear. Community MSK waiting lists remain among the longest in the NHS, leaving too many people waiting in persistent pain and unable to work, care for family, or participate fully in everyday life. In many areas, MSK health still lacks clear system leadership.…

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

I’m not sure whether to start with excitement for the year ahead… or an apology for this newsletter arriving later than planned thanks to a small but mighty IT saga behind the scenes. Let’s call it proof that even in a digital age, progress still occasionally involves turning things off and on again.

But delays aside, there’s a real sense of momentum building across our community. This is going to be a pivotal year for ARMA and for MSK health.…

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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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