Health Policy | ARMA

Welsh Government’s Quality Statement on MSK Health

Quality Statement for Musculoskeletal Health

The quality statement describes what good quality musculoskeletal health services should look like.

First published: 12 October 2023

Last updated: 12 October 2023

The Wales MSK Conference took place in Cardiff on World Arthritis Day, 12 October 2023. ARMA CEO Sue Brown presented alongside the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Frank Atherton and the Health Minister, Eluned Morganon.

The Minister and the CMO delivered speeches covering the scale of the challenge in terms of the number of people living with MSK in Wales – nearly a million – as well as the impact of the conditions on quality of life; both spoke about the importance of primary and secondary prevention regarding MSK.…

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You own what you create: complexity and MSK services

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

I have just finished facilitating one of our regional meetings bringing together stakeholders to talk about what’s happening at the local level with MSK services. It’s clear there is a lot of willingness to do something, despite a lot of confusion around who leads on MSK at an ICS level. A lot of questions were asked at the meeting. Where are the MSK targets being reported? Are the ICBs aware of what’s happening? We’ve got a case to introduce a Fracture Liaison Service, but how do we get anyone to listen?…

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Government’s sports strategy highlights role of MSK Hubs

The government has announced ambitious plans to get an additional 3.5 million people physically active by 2030. The announcement was accompanied by the publication of a report, Get Active: A strategy for the future of sport and physical activity, which featured MSK Hubs as a case study of how sport and physical activity can help people ‘live healthier, longer and happier lives’.

The MSK Hubs programme recently secured £1.4m of funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of the Healthy Ageing Challenge to investigate how to transform leisure facilities into musculoskeletal (MSK) hubs which can be accessed in every community.…

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ARMA Welcomes Major Conditions Strategy

Policy Paper

Major conditions strategy: case for change and our strategic framework

Updated 16 August 2023

It is great to see MSK included in the Government’s Major Conditions Strategy Case for Change and Strategic Framework. This is a major step forward in recognising the impact MSK has on people’s lives and wider society. MSK is biggest cause of years lived with disability in the UK, and it’s recognition as a major condition on par with cancer and mental health is a positive step forward.…

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MSK and the Major Conditions Strategy

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

Everyone working in or living with MSK conditions will have been delighted to read the interim report of the Major Conditions Strategy. MSK is recognised as a “major condition”. It has its own section alongside cancer, dementia, mental health and others. The same size, the same structure, the same status. It finally puts MSK where it belongs. Or should do.

There is so much to welcome in the document. The focus on prevention and personalisation. On treatments in the community and alignment of physical and mental health.…

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The State of Musculoskeletal Health

The State of Musculoskeletal Health is a collection of the most up-to-date, UK-wide statistics on arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. This includes how many people have these conditions, the number at risk of developing these conditions, the impact of these on a person, on the health system and society, and inequalities that can be found within all the topics above. It is a resource for healthcare professionals, policy makers, public heath leads, researchers, people with these conditions, and anyone interested in MSK health.…

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Join a chorus of local voices for MSK

Integrated Care Boards have been in place for almost a year now. Over that year, we have seen the profile and status of MSK health rising at a national level. It is difficult to tell if that profile is reflected at an ICB level. If not, then all the national profile in the world won’t make a difference to people with MSK conditions. That’s why ARMA is making local MSK services a priority with a new project, and we need you to get involved.…

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Budget Announcement

MSK conditions are one of the leading causes of disability in the UK, resulting in millions of lost working days in the UK, as well as significant numbers leaving the workforce each year.

Not only does this have a serious impact on those affected, in terms of income and mental health, but it also means that their much-needed skills and experience are lost to the economy.

That’s why it is welcome news that the Government has announced a package of support for those with disabilities or affected by long-term sickness, as part of this year’s Spring Budget.…

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A step change in the priority for MSK

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

I’m delighted to be writing, for the second time this year, about MSK getting a high profile in Government policy. Two months ago I wrote about the Major Conditions Strategy, and now we have a budget which included funding for MSK. By including the word musculoskeletal in such a major annual economic event, the speech has underlined the vital importance of MSK health to our country and our economy.

The budget included three initiatives for MSK:

Digital resources for MSK and Mental Health – £310 million over 5 years
MSK Hubs – £20 million over 4 years
Increase employment advisers in health settings (including MSK services) – £150 million over 5 years

This is a lot of money, although given the numbers of people with MSK conditions, nowhere near as much as it sounds.…

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Major conditions strategy: parity for MSK?

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

Last month the Government announced a new major conditions strategy. In the past ARMA’s response to such an announcement would be “what about MSK? That’s a major condition contributing hugely to the burden of disease in England.” Not this time.

I will admit to being surprised to read the list of six conditions included and find musculoskeletal disorders was one of them. Pleasantly surprised. Finally, in this one document at least, MSK seems to have parity with other conditions.…

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