Published on: 31,Jul 2025

How can the 10 Year Health Plan deliver for people with musculoskeletal conditions?

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Versus Arthritis

Like many others, Versus Arthritis has closely engaged with the development of the 10 Year Health Plan and has spent some time analysing it since its publication. In this blog, we take a closer look at the plan and what needs to happen to make it work for the 17 million people living with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in England. 

1 in 3 people live with an MSK condition which has a significant impact on people’s lives.  Common symptoms include pain, fatigue and restricted mobility which can lead, in some cases, to people losing their independence and confidence. MSK conditions are the second largest cause of disability and remain one of the most common reasons for long-term sickness absence from work. MSK conditions also account for around one in seven GP appointments. 

The 10 Year Health Plan clearly has significant potential, yet how the vision will be delivered is still unclear. Given the prevalence of arthritis and MSK conditions and their burden and cost to the NHS, alongside their impact on the people living with them there now needs to be a MSK Modern Service Framework to ensure delivery of the 10 Year Health Plan for people living with MSK conditions. 

 

MSK conditions rarely come alone 

Many people living with an MSK condition are living with other long-term health conditions, all of which have a significant impact on someone’s quality of life. One in eight people (12.1%) in England report living with at least two long-term conditions, one of which is MSK related. Arthritis is one of the most common MSK conditions, with osteoarthritis (OA) being the most prevalent. People with OA are almost three times more likely to also have coronary heart disease (CHD) or to have heart failure than those without osteoarthritis. They also have a 61% higher risk of developing diabetes than those without osteoarthritis.  

This demonstrates the need for MSK health to be considered a serious public health issue and to be given priority in Neighbourhood Health Services alongside other long-term conditions.  

 

People with MSK conditions have much to gain from neighbourhood health 

People living with MSK conditions could potentially gain a lot from Neighbourhood Health Centres, as part of a wider focus on neighbourhood health, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. Many people with MSK conditions require access to services such as physiotherapy, weight management services, mental health support, support with physical activity and rehabilitation services – to have this in one place in the community could be advantageous. Yet given the current lack of focus given to MSK health locally and nationally, there is a danger that people with MSK conditions will continue to face numerous barriers to accessing these services.  

Neighbourhood health should clearly be designed around people, including those living with multiple and complex health conditions. At Versus Arthritis, we still have concerns that MSK conditions will continue to be overlooked, and that the people who need them will not be able to access the diagnosis, treatment and care they need.   

One of the best ways of addressing the lack of focus would be to improve the data available on MSK needs and services.  Currently primary and community data is at best patchy but needs to be robust and high-quality, if it is to support Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to make decisions on services which will best meet population needs.  That’s why we would like to see a primary and community care audit developed and delivered. We also believe that there should be a MSK Modern Service Framework as part of a wider approach which recognises arthritis as a significant public health issue.  

 

What do we want to see? 

Whilst we see lots of potential within the 10 Year Health Plan, this isn’t the first rodeo for many of us. We’ll only really achieve the transformation needed if implementation is ambitious and backed by an unwavering long-term commitment to understanding and managing long-term conditions that increasing numbers of people are living with.