UK BJD Network Scores Victory by Teaming with Department of Health to Advise Health Services Overhaul

England’s new Musculoskeletal Services Framework, which was launched in October 2006, is the Department of Health’s new strategy for improving the delivery of musculoskeletal health services. In planning the new Framework, the Department of Health worked closely with ARMA - The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance which is the UK National Action Network for the Bone & Joint Decade, and serves as an umbrella association bringing together British musculoskeletal groups -- professional, patient and research organisations -- to further the aims of the BJD in the UK.

The 74-page report is aimed at all English hospital, clinical and community health service professionals including allied health professionals, general practitioners and nursing staff. The Framework represents a complete services makeover which aims to improve the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of people with  musculoskeletal conditions, addresses their health care and social care needs more directly, and bringing services closer to home.

Neil Betteridge, Chairman of ARMA, and Chief Executive of Arthritis Care said: "The Musculoskeletal Services Framework is a unique opportunity to shape frontline services for a generation. User groups have been centrally involved in the development of the Framework, which is reflected in the emphasis on services being integrated and holistic and thus truly patient-centred. I believe the Framework, if implemented well, will have a material impact on the quality of life of people with musculoskeletal conditions, whether a child newly diagnosed with arthritis or an older person with osteoporosis needing support to self manage.”

At the heart of the new framework is a triage system designed to identify people whose needs can be answered by local services, as opposed to those requiring a hospital referral.  This comes in as part of the NHS”s new 18 weeks care pathway which is revamping all services in an attempt to deliver care from GP referral to treatment in a streamlined manner.

In addition, Arthritis Care UK has joined the Department of Health to develop patients' guide to the framework, entitled Information for People with Bone and Joint Problems: Getting the most from your local health service.

·          For more information about the new Musculoskeletal Services Framework, please see
article

·          Or to download the report itself, click on:
report

·          For more information about ARMA, please visit http://www.arma.uk.net/

·          To download the DoH/Arthitis Care Patient’s Guide Information for People with Bone and Joint Problems, please click on: guide