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.
The fact that the Major Conditions Strategy includes MSK as one of the six identified conditions should signal to ICBs the importance of MSK and the need to ensure it gets equal attention. A quick look at a random selection of ICB websites shows that the priority for MSK is variable. Some have MSK service plans easily identifiable. Most have little or no mention.
This is despite the fact that most ICB plans and strategies include a focus on reducing health inequalities and increasing healthy life expectancy. MSK is such a strong factor in this that it should be clear that addressing this is essential.
What can we do about this?
Unlike our national work, most national organisations cannot engage directly with every one of 42 ICBs. Which is where you come in. Everyone reading this newsletter – patient, professional, clinician -has a legitimate interest in the priority given to your local MSK services. If your ICB is ignoring MSK, or focusing only on one aspect, you should have a voice to raise this.
Get involved
Initially, we are asking everyone to put a question to their ICB about MSK services. Different ICBs have different systems, but all allow local people to ask questions by email in advance of the meetings. Anyone in England can ask a question such as “Where is MSK in the ICB plans?” or “How is this ICB giving a priority to MSK given that it is the largest cause of years lived with disabilities?”.
We would like you to share any answers with us, ideally using our project Trello boards. Anyone can join the board for their ICB, link with others in the areas who share in interest in MSK services, and begin to press for MSK to get an appropriate priority. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming or difficult. Add your voice to others and together make a difference. We need people with different perspectives – our trustees and staff from our members are joining in. Any readers from North East and North Cumbria will find me there.
Whilst this work is focused on England, our key messages for MSK services apply across all nations. We will evaluate the success of the project in England and consider rolling out to the whole UK.
So I urge you to get involved. Find out more about the project and let’s have a chorus of voices for MSK.