The MSK Conference 2024
'Health Inequalities: Closing the Gap'

We are pleased to announce the return of our highly successful Musculoskeletal (MSK) Conference, taking place at Therapy Expo on 27 and 28 November 2024 at the NEC Birmingham.

This year's exciting programme has been curated in partnership with Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA), Versus Arthritis, and the UK MSK Partnership Group. Together, we will delve into the pivotal theme: 'Health Inequalities: Closing the Gap'.

Register for Therapy Expo 2024 to gain access to the MSK Conference!

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Conference overview

This year's theme of ‘Health Inequalities: Closing the Gap’ will build on bringing the importance of ‘Working Together’ in MSK health.

The conference will provide a platform to showcase some current work in tackling inequalities in MSK health, innovative projects at local and national levels, and an opportunity to share knowledge, experience, and networking.

The aims of the conference include:

  • To raise the profile of health inequality issues, and possible solutions and actions to address health inequalities, as outlined by the King’s fund What Are Health Inequalities?
  • To create a platform to share updates, current evidence, case studies, and local/national projects in tackling health inequalities
  • To raise the importance of collaborative working, and how the MSK workforce can help close the gap between health inequalities and the growing prevalence of MSK conditions
  • To network with others working in the MSK community

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THEME
Why health inequalities?

Around one-third of the UK’s adult population live with MSK conditions including arthritis and chronic pain. MSK conditions are one of the biggest contributors to years lived with disability (YLDs), the third most common reason for working days lost, and are associated with a higher prevalence of multi-morbidities. Such impact is huge on people’s everyday lives, our healthcare systems and society.

There has never been a bigger need to tackle inequalities in MSK health. Health inequalities are ‘unfair avoidable differences in health across the population and between different groups within society’ (NHS England, 2022). Evidence shows that MSK conditions are more common in areas of greater poverty, some minority ethics groups, people who live in more deprived parts of the UK, women, and older people. Health inequalities also have an impact on people's access to services, longer waiting times and poorer clinical outcomes.

MSK multi-professionals have a significant role to play in bridging the gap between current practice and policy and can contribute to delivering a more equitable health system and healthier communities collaboratively for the future MSK provision.

Sue Brown
CEO, Arthritis & Musculoskeletal Alliance

 

AUDIENCE
Who is the conference for?

The conference is open to all clinical professionals who work in MSK, such as:

  • MSK physiotherapists at all levels, from the start of their career right up to consultant level
  • AHPs such as podiatrists, nurses, paramedics, dietitians, occupational therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors
  • First contact practitioners (FCPs)
  • Advanced practice practitioners (APPs)
  •  Sport Rehabilitators
  • Medical doctors such as Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) doctors, GPs with an MSK extended role, rheumatologists, pain specialists, orthopaedic surgeons, or those who have an interest in MSK and are keen to join the workforce

The two-day programme has been designed to suit a wide range of MSK clinicians with different levels of experience and from different specialities.

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STRUCTURE

The two-day conference

Four keynote lectures and 12 interactive breakout sessions, covering the latest and most relevant clinical topics, published reports, evidence and case studies from primary care and public health.

There will be highly qualified speakers of different levels of practice, representing different MSK professions and sub specialities, arm’s length bodies, voluntary organisations, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), National Health Service (NHS), and independent MSK healthcare providers.

There will also be poster presentations that align with the conference theme ‘Health Inequalities: Closing the Gap’. 

There will be an exciting opportunity to submit a poster for the MSK Conference. All selected posters will be displayed digitally at the event via a rolling slide presentation at different points throughout the day. Winners of the poster presentation will also be invited to present their work at the conference. Further details on the submission guidelines and review process will follow shortly.

The conference will run alongside Therapy Expo and all MSK Conference delegates will have an opportunity to access both the MSK Conference and Therapy Expo, at no extra cost.

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COLLABORATORS
Meet the partners for 2024

This year's exciting programme has been curated in partnership with Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA), Versus Arthritis, and the UK MSK Partnership Group.

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PARTNERS:

ARMA

The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) is the alliance providing a collective voice for the arthritis and MSK community in the UK. Their vision is that MSK disorders are a priority in policy and practice in the UK. Currently, they have 40 member organisations, ranging from specialised support groups for rare diseases to major research charities and national professional bodies. ARMA works collectively and collaboratively with their members and partners, to improve standards of care for people with arthritis and other MSK disorders.

In September 2021, ARMA held a roundtable event with multiple stakeholders including the CSP and the MACP to address tackling health inequalities. The report from the roundtable lays out an overview of the issues related to health inequalities. Following on from the roundtable, in February 2023, ARMA launched an inquiry into MSK health inequalities to set out the evidence for inequalities in MSK health related to deprivation and possible underlying reasons, proposed actions both in design and delivery of MSK services and actions to address wider determinants of health and prevention. The results from this critically important enquiry are due for publication later this year before the 2024 MSK Conference.

For further information about ARMA, please visit: https://arma.uk.net

The UK MSK Partnership Group

The UK MSK Partnership Group serves as a community of practice and an expert reference group and/ or steering group for national MSK policy and strategy across the United Kingdom (UK), for professional bodies, professional special interest groups and sub-specialities. Currently, there are 45 representatives in the group across the 4 nations. The group actively supports and contributes to national MSK policies, MSK implementation, competencies, and capabilities in both the clinical and educational fields. It also serves as a platform for a community of practice across a broad range of appropriate MSK organisations within the 4 nations and helps to share and contribute knowledge across the MSK professions and subspecialties in the UK. The group is highly responsive to challenges and issues relevant to MSK health, including health inequalities.

For further information about the UK MSK Partnership Group, please visit: https://www.mskpg.co.uk

Versus Arthritis

Versus Arthritis is the UK’s largest arthritis charity, investing in world-class research, providing high-quality services, and campaigning on the issues that matter most to people with arthritis.

Over the last few decades, they have funded over £500m of research and been at the forefront of some of the most important advances in arthritis treatment.

They work across the four nations to influence government and policy, tackle inequalities and promote best practice, building a powerful community of advocates dedicated to improving arthritis care through increased focus, better data and improved training pathways.

They also offer a diverse range of services such as training for primary healthcare providers and tailored support for people living with arthritis through their helpline, health information, physical activity programmes, local support groups and online community.

Versus Arthritis believes everyone with arthritis deserves the same level of treatment and care, regardless of age, background, economic status or location. Notable publications include The State of Musculoskeletal Health 2023 and Chronic Pain in England: Unseen, Unequal, Unfair

For further information about Versus Arthritis, please visit https://versusarthritis.org

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