Category: Health Policy

Guest blog: People before Technology – Best Musculoskeletal Health for all

by Melanie Martin, Senior Delivery Manager (Innovation) & Digital Lead, Best MSK Health Programme, NHS England

Technology plays an ever-increasing role in our daily lives, including in healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic has made an indelible impact upon the uptake of healthcare technology with 30 million people accessing the NHS app and the opportunity to book repeat prescriptions, access a Covid travel pass and sign up to organ donation.  We have learnt how people adapted quickly to the delivery of musculoskeletal (MSK) services during the pandemic, for example through telephone and video consultations. …

Read more of this article

Core20PLUS5 for young people

NHS England’s Core20PLUS5 approach is now applied to children and young people.

Core20PLUS5 is an NHS England approach that focuses on the 20% most deprived of the national population plus specific communities which experience inequality. It identifies five clinical areas requiring targeted improvement.

Initially focused on healthcare inequalities amongst the adult population, the approach has now been applied to children and young people.

Whilst not covering musculoskeletal health specifically, everyone working in paediatric MSK services should look at the Core20PLUS5 relevant to their own area to help target their work on inequalities.…

Read more of this article

A view from Wales: Overly optimistic or truly evolutionary, time will tell.

Reflection from the national clinical co-leads for the Welsh national musculoskeletal clinical Network

Dr Meinir Jones, General Practitioner, Associate Medical in HDUHB;
Dr Rob Letchford, Consultant Physiotherapist MSK rehabilitation in CAVUHB

Six months into these new roles, we find ourselves reaching a peak of optimism and enthusiasm for the future. In the aftermath of a devastating two years that has negatively affected so many, and left previously stretched health services with unprecedented challenges, that seems a ridiculous position to hold. Perhaps it’s our optimism (given the positive effects on health we recommend that you try it out too!).…

Read more of this article

Versus Arthritis Cost-of-living crisis

On World Arthritis Day, Versus Arthritis sought to shine a light on the crisis people with arthritis are facing this winter — by calling on the Prime Minister to take urgent action to protect them. 

In September, Versus Arthritis surveyed almost 4,000 people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions to ask how the cost-of-living crisis was affecting them, and the results were staggering: 94% of people saying that cold weather has a negative impact on their condition, but 84% are using less fuel because of rising costs.…

Read more of this article

Another new Government

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

Local and national

Another new Government, another new(ish) Secretary of State for Health. From an MSK perspective, what should their priorities be? There are a few things that need to happen nationally, but my first thoughts are that we don’t now need a multitude of new government targets and promises. A lot of what is needed is local and local systems need to be given the space to deliver.

At a local level there are three things I think Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) need to do to deliver on MSK.…

Read more of this article

A week to focus on health equalities

I was delighted last week to be able to join NHS England’s Health Inequalities Improvement Board to present on the importance of MSK health for equalities. I am also delighted that Bola Owolabi, Director of NHS England’s National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, has written the guest blog for the October issue of our newsletter.

We’ve chosen to highlight equalities during Bone and Joint Week this year because it is critically important. Poor MSK health contributes to and exacerbates health inequalities. MSK is fundamental to our ability to work, socialise, move, eat a good diet – in fact, all the things that enable us to stay healthy.…

Read more of this article

Guest blog: Narrowing the gap

Bola Owolabiby Bola Owolabi, Director, National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme

Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups within society. They arise because of the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. These conditions influence how we think, feel and act and can impact both our physical and mental health and wellbeing.

This #BoneJointWeek I am delighted to see the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance’s commitment to taking action to narrow musculoskeletal health inequalities, particularly with regards to listening to the experiences of underserved communities and working in partnership to improve care.…

Read more of this article