by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA
One of the priorities identified by our members for 2021 was health inequalities. We’ve recently begun discussing how this relates to MSK and what ARMA and our members might be able to do. In the course of discussions, I’ve discovered a few things which have surprised and shocked me. For instance, some newly qualified MSK professionals are choosing not to work in the NHS because of the level of racism they have experienced in NHS settings. And people in areas of deprivation wait longer for joint replacement surgery than those in less deprived areas. Whatever the reasons for this, clinical priority is not one of them. These issues are important for ARMA, our members and everyone living with an MSK condition. They are not issues we can ignore.
The links between MSK conditions and inequalities are many. Incidence of MSK conditions is more common in more deprived areas and can differ between men and women. There is evidence of lower rates of referral to services in some minority communities and uptake is different for men and women. Unpacking the complexity of these issues is a first step in working out how to address them.
With waiting lists so high, the waiting times for surgery issue is very current. The BOA has issued a statement on prioritising surgery which states that after those who risk serious harm if not operated on urgently, time waiting should be the criterion. This is to ensure that unconscious bias does not lead to inequalities.
Our members are also considering their own organisations, professions and services. In different ways the MSK professions are not representative of society. We hosted this guest blog a few months ago which looked at some of the possible reasons behind this. Our patient member organisations are looking at whether their membership and services reach the diversity of people living with MSK conditions.
These are not easy issues to address. They require careful prioritisation and a sustained focus – all year round not because it is Black History Month or Pride Month. They require honest, and sometimes difficult, conversations, a willingness to challenge and practical action. I’m looking forward to working with ARMA members on this in the coming months and years. There is no quick fix but by sharing ideas, resources and progress, we can make a difference together.