19th October 2023

For several months, colleagues across the system have been looking to implement more personalised approaches for people with MSK (muscular skeletal conditions). Matt Evans, Project Manager, has been leading on this work and wrote this short blog in order to share a recent meeting video, presentation and some useful resources for those working on one of the MSK projects.

(Not a) Health Village

In July 2022, I was fortunate enough to visit South Walks House in Dorset as a part of a wider study visit into how the Health System was working with the Physical Activity Sector. During the trip, I was inspired by the cohesion I witnessed between statutory bodies (NHS trusts, County Council, etc) and the VCSE groups (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) as they worked to tackle inactivity among the population. Like a child with a new toy, I wanted to play so began telling everyone and anyone about my experience. I even did a podcast series about it with my colleague Charlie Coward (Active Dorset). Click here to have a listen. In Series 1, episode 4, we spoke to two people that had delivered the new Outpatient Assessment Centre which was part of the Dorset Health Village work.

Since then, I've moved jobs but my interest in this never faded. I received articles about similar projects that had popped up all over the country and before long I was convinced that this kind of approach could really help people within the MSK pathway. I began speaking to colleagues and sure enough the coalition of the willing grew. Finally, Vicky Thomson (Every-One) gave it the shove we needed: "Book a date!" she encouraged. So, we did and with that came offers, pledges and commitments; Pain management, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, integrated lifestyles, co-production, patient experience, leisure providers... the list keeps growing.

On Tuesday 17th October 2023, 18 colleagues met to share thoughts and begin to make this idea into a Lincolnshire opportunity. You can see the video below and download the presentation. Although work has begun, we remain open to engaging with more people and colleagues. Please don't hesitate to contact me on matthew.evans34@nhs.net to get involved. The hot topic at the moment is the name of it, with the vast majority of stakeholders wanting to call it something else. For now, it's not a 'health village' but it is the concept of one with many partners wishing to work together to support people.

We are about to test and learn. It's really exciting!

More to follow...