Posted on: 12 December 2018
The Improving Planned Care Programme, in conjunction with the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR), held and event in Halifax on 20 November that focussed on musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions that affect joints and bones.
The aim of the event was to explore how partnership working can help improve health outcomes for local people who live with MSK conditions, and how we can work together to reduce the numbers of people who are affected by these conditions through awareness and prevention.
Representatives with personal experience of MSK, and those who provide support for people with MSK conditions, sketched out a vision to show what the picture for Calderdale could look like in five years’ time, with a shift away from traditional services towards a focus on prevention and alternative solutions.
Conversations highlighted the fact that medical professionals aren’t the only ones who can support people with MSK conditions and we must make the best possible use of the expertise and support that is already out there in our communities. There are many dedicated support groups, organisations and individuals who can work alongside the medical profession towards this five-year goal for MSK in Calderdale.
All partners agreed that the aim of building partnerships is to help people have a better quality of life through transformative change, and the key steps to achieve this are to:
- understand the current picture and existing work surrounding MSK conditions in Calderdale to avoid duplication;
- include all the different voices that can provide insight, particularly those who work to help prevent MSK conditions, those at risk of developing MSK conditions and those who live with, or support others, with MSK conditions;
- start making practical changes that draw on existing support and resources; and
- learn from other areas and services to consider ideas that could be adapted for Calderdale.
Avoiding the development of an MSK condition was a recurring theme on the day and we were delighted that our event was attended by a group of local students who wanted to see more opportunities around self-care and prevention. One student told attendees: “It worries me that if I don’t become more active now, I will be more worn down and physically unhealthy when I’m older.” Prevention was a key focus for this group who would like to see creativity in the way available spaces and resources are used to offer more opportunities for people of all ages to take part in physical activity.
The outcome of the event was a clear vision for a healthy and confident Calderdale that could be achieved through the involvement of various organisations, service providers, the community and voluntary sector, and last but by no means least, local people of all ages.