After more than a decade of visionary leadership, Natalie Blunt is moving on from her role as Managing Director of Sussex MSK Partnership Central and as a member of the Here board. As she steps away, we want to take a moment to reflect on her immense contribution, celebrate the legacy she leaves, and simply say: thank you, Natalie.

Transforming MSK Care at Here

Natalie has been with Here for 15 years, dedicating her career to transforming musculoskeletal (MSK) care both locally and nationally. She has spent the last five years as Director of MSK services, and her expertise, clarity of purpose, and relentless focus on people have made a lasting mark on everything we do.

Leading Sussex MSK Partnership Central

She has been at the heart of Sussex MSK Partnership Central since its formation in 2014, a bold and innovative joint venture between Here and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust. Under her leadership, what began as an ambitious idea has grown into a national exemplar of joined-up, person-centred MSK care for a population of over 1 million people in Sussex.

Championing Whole-Person MSK Health

Throughout her time with us, Natalie has championed MSK health as a vital part of overall wellbeing, not just something to treat, but something to prioritise. She’s driven a whole-person approach, seeing beyond symptoms to the lives behind them. As she often reminded us, “an elbow never walked into a treatment room on its own.” It’s that clarity, always putting people first, that has shaped the service we are so proud of today.

Natalie with Laura Finucane

Standout Moments in Natalie’s MSK Journey

There have been many standout moments along Natalie’s MSK journey with Here.

2015: A National First in Patient Leadership

In 2015, Natalie helped usher in a national first, recruiting a Patient Director. This groundbreaking move placed people with lived experience at the centre of service design and paved the way for our innovative Health Builders Programme.

2019: Award-Winning Excellence

2019 was a year of celebration. The partnership won an HSJ Partnership Award and was rated Outstanding by the CQC, a reflection of the excellence she helped cultivate every day as Deputy MD.

2020: Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the most challenging days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Natalie led the team to proactively redeploy MSK expertise to support the urgent care system, a testament to her ability to see the bigger picture and act swiftly in the face of crisis.

2022: Publishing The CASE for Change

In 2022, she co-authored The CASE for Change, a landmark publication with Laura Finucane that laid out a compelling vision for excellence in MSK care. Its influence continues to resonate across clinical and commissioning communities alike.

2023: National Recognition for Innovation

And in 2023, Sussex MSK Partnership Central was recognised again; this time with a HealthTech Award, highlighting how innovation and compassion can go hand in hand.

Pioneering Community Appointment Days

One of Natalie’s most celebrated achievements came with the creation of our Community Appointment Days, a new, person-focused approach that made national headlines and is now a model now emulated across the sector.

2024/25: Expanding MSK Care Across Sussex

In 2024/25, Natalie played a key role in developing and launching Sussex MSK Health: Brighton, Hove and West Sussex, expanding our innovative approach to MSK care to serve a population of over one million people.

Natalie at an MSK conference

Leading with Purpose and Courage

Natalie’s leadership has been defined by clarity of vision, fierce advocacy for personalised care, and a deep belief in the power of partnership. She has shown us what it means to lead with purpose and to act courageously.

A Lasting Impact at Here

As a board member at Here, Natalie also brought energy, wisdom and challenge, helping ensure our work stayed connected to our vision and values. Her presence will be deeply missed, but her influence will continue to shape our work for years to come.

Care Navigation/Social Prescribing is a model that enables health and social care professionals to refer people to a range of non-medical services within their community to improve and support social, mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Recognising that people’s health and wellbeing is affected by a range of social, economic, and environmental factors.

Care Navigation takes a holistic approach that enables people to take control of their own health. With the practical and emotional support of a Care Navigator this allows people to identify ways to improve how they are feeling.

How does it work?

Our Care Navigators spend time helping people to focus on ‘what matters’ to them. They assess the needs of each individual and together create a personalised care and support plan. This may involve connecting them to community groups, classes, workshops, or even advisory bodies for legal advice or debt counselling.

Care Navigating success

There is increasing evidence in the success of Care Navigating/Social Prescribing and the impact it has on both individuals and communities.

“In one evaluation, six care navigators from voluntary care organisations worked in integrated health and social care teams across and county. They carried out up to six face to face interviews with an older person, with a unit cost of £42 (compared to £213 per visit for adult social worker). Health related quality of life measures improved by 17%, people needed to use fewer health services and the project was overall cost effective.” ~ Care Navigation: A Competency Framework

“Thank you so much, you’ve helped me to realise there are resources out there for me” – Patient was experiencing homelessness

Is there a difference between Care Navigators and Social Prescribers?

There is no universal definition of care navigation a variety of titles are used, including ‘care navigator (CN)’, ‘social prescriber (SP)’ and ‘link worker’. All these roles provide effective navigation and is a key element of delivering coordinated, person-centred care and support.

Care Navigators are often existing members of staff within Community Services and GP practices. At Sussex MSK Health, our Care Navigators work closely with clinicians, which helps to free up valuable clinical time for addressing physical health needs, while Care Navigators can focusing on non-medical and wellbeing concerns. By providing this additional support patients receive holistic care that extends beyond clinical treatment.

Why have Care Navigators as part of our MSK service?

• Help and support with barriers to appointments.
• Liaise with clinicians/admin teams/clinical teams.
• A chance for patients to unpack, reflect and think about their next steps.
• Help people in multiple pathways within MSK and help make sense of their treatment plans.
• Help stop people falling through the cracks and bouncing in and out of the service.
• There are incredible resources out in the community – directing people more quickly to these can benefit the person.

Many things affect our health and wellbeing. We can all sometimes feel isolated, lonely, or stressed out by work or money. It can also be very difficult dealing with the stress of managing a long-term condition.

We now have a team of 8 people who are helping patients deal with similar concerns every day, creating personalised support plans for our patients giving them access the support and resources they need to help them feel better.

Read more about Personalised Care/ Social Prescribing on the NHS website: NHS England » Social prescribing

Or if you’d like to learn more about our MSK service you can find out more here: Community MSK Services in Sussex – Here

We are delighted to announce the launch of Sussex MSK Health Brighton & Hove and West Sussex, our brand-new Musculoskeletal (MSK) service, which officially begins today – 2nd December 2024.

This launch marks a new chapter in delivering joined-up, person-centred care. Together with our partners Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT), we’re building on over 10 years of expertise in designing and delivering innovative long-term conditions services, including CQC outstanding MSK care. 

A new era of integrated care

The new community service covers Brighton & Hove and West Sussex, replacing Sussex MSK Partnership Central (SMSKPC), University Hospitals Sussex (UHSussex) and Coastal Sussex Integrated MSK Service (CSIMS).

Key highlights of our approach 

• Integrated care pathways: We connect primary, community, and secondary care, creating seamless experiences for orthopaedics, pain management, and rheumatology. 

• Patient-first design: Our care begins with meaningful “what matters to you” conversations, empowering people to make informed decisions about their health. 

• Equitable access: From digital self-management tools to flexible in-person and virtual appointments, our service adapts to meet diverse needs. 

• Improving outcomes: Focusing on reducing health inequalities, we ensure timely, high-quality care for all. 

What sets us apart 

• 10+ Years of quality: Building on a decade of pioneering MSK care, we have consistently delivered high-quality, patient-centred outcomes. 

• Collaborative innovation: Our partnership with SCFT exemplifies integrated working across the NHS and beyond. 

• Ambitious vision: This service is part of a five-year transformation programme, aligning with Sussex’s health strategy, Improving Lives Together.

Why it matters 

Musculoskeletal conditions are one of the most common long-term conditions in the UK. Affecting one in three people and significantly impacting their quality of life and independence.

As specialists in long-term condition care, we understand the importance of creating services that are easy to navigate, responsive, and effective at supporting people to live well. 

We’re proud to be shaping the future of MSK care, ensuring that everyone in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex has access to exceptional, personalised support. 

To learn more about our approach and the impact we’re making, visit Community MSK Services in Sussex – Here

As we approach the conclusion of the Sussex MSK Partnership Central (SMSKPC) service, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the extraordinary journey we’ve shared.

Over the past decade, this partnership has been more than a service – it’s been a community, a purpose, and a shared commitment to making a real difference in people’s lives.

To mark this special occasion, we’ve created a series of videos that highlight the many achievements of SMSKPC and the incredible people who’ve made it all possible. Each focuses on a key aspect of our journey, showcasing the impact and the values that have defined our partnership.

Celebrating 10 years together 

Our first video takes us back to May 2024, when we celebrated ten years of SMSKPC at our annual conference. This event marked a special moment for us – a chance to look back on all that’s been achieved, and to recognise the people who’ve made it possible. 

Over the past decade, it’s been our team’s commitment and shared purpose that have shaped our success, and May’s celebration was a reminder of just how much we’ve accomplished together.

Making an Impact Person to Person 

This video shines a light on the tangible difference our service has made to people and our communities – it’s the personal connections that have been at the heart of everything we do.

Showcasing the positive feedback and gratitude of those who’ve benefited from our service, these stories of care and support truly bring our partnership’s impact to life.

Living Our Values 

It’s the culture that has defined our service – a culture built on strong relationships, shared values, and a deep commitment to patient care. The camaraderie, teamwork, and dedication of our team highlight the connections that have shaped our partnership and made it more than just a service, but a community. 

From the kindness shown in small gestures and moments of support to the collaborative efforts that have made a big difference – and the friendships formed along the way – this video is a chance to honour everyone who has contributed to delivering SMSKPC.

Each individual’s hard work, passion, and care have made this service possible.

A celebration of togetherness 

As SMSKPC comes to a close, this series is our way of looking back with pride and gratitude. We’ve come so far over the last 10 years, and it’s all thanks to the incredible individuals hard work, passion, and care have made our service possible. Together, we’ve built something truly special.

We hope our work inspires others to see the power of community, the importance of shared purpose, and the enduring impact of truly personalised care.

Thank you to everyone involved in being part of this incredible story. 

Stay tuned as we celebrate this final chapter of the Sussex MSK Partnership Central journey and say hello to MSK Health.

New Musculoskeletal service set to transform care for patients in Sussex

“We are delighted to be awarded this contract along with SCFT as part of an innovative new Sussex MSK collaborative. Working closely with partners, professionals, patients, and our communities, this collaboration builds on our long-standing set of innovations that are leading the way nationally in how MSK healthcare is delivered. This marks another significant step on our journey to deliver exceptional care for those we serve. 

Our vision is to deliver the highest standards of patient care by providing equitable, personalised, and seamless services across the entire MSK pathway.” ~ Helen Curr, chief executive officer at Here.

Health and care partners across Sussex are delighted to announce that an innovative new Musculoskeletal (MSK) service is set to start for local people in December 2024.  

This is the culmination of four years of work and engagement with many stakeholders across the Sussex health and care system to design a transformed, integrated, MSK service for patients in Sussex.    

Following a robust procurement process, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, working alongside University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and Here, have been awarded a new contract to deliver MSK services in West Sussex and Brighton and Hove; and East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, working alongside Horder Healthcare will cover East Sussex.  

The approach taken across Sussex is considered national best practice and is clear in its ambition to improve care and experience for local people.   

The new service will see a fully integrated MSK pathway across primary, community and secondary care for orthopaedics, pain and rheumatology, and include services such as physiotherapy, diagnostics, and surgical treatment.   

The new service will focus on improving access, experience, and outcomes for patients, with providers working together to ensure patients receive a consistent experience, feel supported throughout the whole pathway, and get the best treatment first time.   

Other planned improvements to Sussex MSK services, under this new contract, are: 

• Better communication and information for patients to empower them to be in-charge of their own care and make informed choices about treatment options 

• A more joined-up and coordinated care offering which breaks-down traditional barriers between organisations 

• Streamlining access to care and advice: providing much more choice about how people can access care, and that services are available in their community when they need them 

• Helping people to live and work well for longer and offer more personalised care, including supported self-management when they need it, via digital platforms   

• A more concerted and systematic approach to reducing health inequalities and addressing variation in terms of access, waiting times and service provision.   

• Offering a personalised model of delivery for outpatient appointments, including virtual appointments where clinically and personally appropriate (considering other factors relevant to the individual) and face-to-face appointments. 

The new service’s specification is fully aligned to Sussex’s five year health and care strategy, Improving Lives Together, by working to a new, joined-up, community-based approach to MSK care, by growing and developing the Sussex health and care workforce, by improving the use digital technology and information, and by maximising the power of partnership working across health and care organisations in Sussex.   

The specification and awarding of the successful bid were developed with a range of different partners, including patient representatives and Healthwatch. The service contract is worth around £41m per year of the contract – which is for five years, with the option of two additional years after the initial five.  

MSK conditions can affect joints, bones and muscles and sometimes associated tissues such as nerves. They can range from minor injuries to long-term conditions.

Over 20 million people in the UK, almost one third of the population, have a MSK condition such as arthritis or back pain.

Symptoms can include pain, stiffness, limited movement, and disability which affect quality of life and independence. 

In Sussex, MSK services are in high demand, so the new service is an important step for providing quality services for local people. For example, in 2019-20, over 172,000 referrals were made to MSK services, which resulted in 225,000 community appointments and 67,000 referrals on to secondary care.

Work is taking place at pace to implement changes which are required to develop the new service, which is due to go live on 1 December 2024.

Earlier this year we commissioned an evaluation of our Community Appointment Days.

Laura Finucane, Clinical Director at Sussex MSK Partnership Central shares her reflections on the evaluation.

Why was it important to have this evaluation?  

When we commissioned this evaluation, our main goal was to get an independent and fresh perspective on what we had already observed. We needed an objective review to validate our findings and to dig deeper into the data – helping us to see what might have been overlooked.

Most importantly, we wanted to assess it all through the lens of health inequality, ensuring our work is truly making an impact where it’s needed most.  

The value of independent scrutiny  

One of the key purposes of this evaluation was to keep evolving. We wanted the data not only to validate what we were doing, but to inform and improve future Community Appointment Days (CADs), strengthening the overall offer.

This has been an invaluable process, continually shaping how we support our community. 

What have we learned?

A significant shift we’ve made is moving our health hub to the front of the patient journey. This simple change led to a dramatic increase in screening for blood pressure and diabetes – a real success in terms of uptake. But the evaluation also revealed some gaps, like the fact that many people weren’t engaging with the information provided. So, we’ve now placed extra resources on stewarding, helping guide people right from the front door.  

Data has become a powerful tool for us, highlighting areas that need further attention and helping us plan the next steps. We’re seeing the importance of exploring longitudinal data to understand long-term outcomes. And one key takeaway? Both people attending and staff have really valued the service, with many staff members appreciating the chance to step outside their usual routine and connect more deeply with people and colleagues.  

Importantly, this evaluation has paved the way for new initiatives, particularly in tackling health inequalities. We’re now focusing on reaching those who don’t typically engage with services, ensuring that our approach is as inclusive as possible. 

Applying our findings to future work  

Looking ahead, we’re keen to build on what we’ve learned. Our current model was developed with patients on waiting lists in mind, but our future plans aim to offer CADs as the first touchpoint in a person’s health journey with us. We believe this early intervention will help people understand what to expect and get the support they need sooner.  

We’re also strengthening our collaboration with the voluntary and community sector, ensuring our offer truly reflects the needs of our local population – and we’re using data to guide us every step of the way. 

Laura’s reflections on the project  

This project started with a bold vision in 2022, alongside Natalie Blunt, Managing Director of Sussex MSK Partnership Central.

We took a risk in trying something different, but with the focus on what matters most to people who access the service– staff thought we were a bit mad at first – but gradually, they came on board. Initially, there was a temptation to simply ‘lift and shift’ hospital services to the community, but we knew that wasn’t the right approach.

What we needed was a more radical change, and our staff fully embraced that challenge. 

The CAD continues to evolve, change and works because of the enthusiasm and dedication of the team. This has only been possible because of that commitment and the team effort. 

It was the culture of the organisation that allowed us to take those risks and pushed us to think outside the box. We were supported every step of the way.

For me, one of the biggest takeaways has been the sheer joy of working with our staff in such an engaging and inspiring way.

This journey has been full of learning, growth, and joy, and it’s something we’re all proud of.

You can read the Evaluation Summary or download the full Review and Evaluation document here.

We’re delighted to publish the Sussex MSK Partnership Community Appointment Days Evidence Review & Evaluation, and share our learnings.

As a not-for-profit, we’re always focused on learning from our work and pushing to improve our services, ensuring exceptional care reaches everyone. This review highlights the tangible impact CADs are having on MSK care delivery and reveals key insights that will help us build on this progress. 

One of the standout successes of the initiative has been the rise in Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) rates. More than 50% of CAD attendees opted for this approach, a significant increase compared to the 12% seen in other services. Although national evidence on PIFU’s effectiveness is still emerging, these figures suggest that CADs are making a real difference in promoting long-term self-management.

How are Community Appointment Days making a difference? 

• Supporting self-care: Over 50% of patients who attended CADs were able to move to self-care after just one session, reducing the need for ongoing clinic visits. 

• Boost in Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU): More than half of CAD attendees opted for PIFU, compared to just 12% in other services. This shows that patients are taking charge of their long-term care. 

• Overwhelmingly positive feedback: Patients and staff alike have praised the expert advice, personalised care, and collaborative environment that CADs offer. 

Helping to manage waiting times 

Although CADs weren’t specifically designed to reduce waiting times, we’ve seen another benefit: they’ve helped us keep waiting lists stable, a big achievement given national trends of increasing backlogs. 

Read evaluation in full 

We’re excited to share these findings with you. You can download the complete Evaluation Review and Report and dive into all the details. 

If you’re thinking of starting your own Community Appointment Days, check out our Essential Ingredients guide for tips on how to get started.  

Curious about how CADs work? Read more in our blog series:

• Community Appointment Days – An idea that rapidly turned into an innovation
• Community Appointment Days – What makes them tick
• What if we made community powered health, for everyone

Evaluation overview

Support for self-management: 

• CAD effectiveness: The initiative has significantly improved patient self-management, with over 50% discharged to self-care after just one CAD appointment. This suggests a reduction in the need for multiple follow-up appointments, potentially easing the burden on downstream clinics. 

• PIFU outcomes: CAD patients had a much higher rate (over 50%) of Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) as an outcome compared to other services (12%). Although the evidence base for PIFU’s effectiveness is limited, the higher rate in CAD indicates a positive impact on long-term self-management.

Patient experience: 

• Positive feedback: Patients reported overwhelmingly positive experiences, especially regarding face-to-face expert advice and personalised care. Despite some operational concerns like waiting times, patients felt involved and heard, meeting the initiative’s goal of enabling active participation in care.

Staff experience: 

• Professional development: Staff enjoyed the CAD events, appreciating the opportunity to spend quality time with patients, understand their needs, and provide tailored advice. The collaborative environment also fostered a sense of collegiality. However, there were some negative comments about operational issues, such as workflow and IT challenges. 

Adoption and attendance: 

• Good adoption: High conversion rates from invitations to attendance indicate strong adoption of CAD across different areas. However, attendance variations by age group suggest barriers for working-age adults, who may benefit from more advanced information and preparation. 

Exploration of broader health issues: 

• Broader services: Feedback indicates that CAD attendees could explore broader issues affecting their musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions giving people the opportunity to access support from other health and wellbeing services.

Impact on equity: 

• No perpetuation of inequalities: Analysis by age, gender, and deprivation suggests that the CAD initiative does not exacerbate inequalities. However, higher DNA (Did Not Attend) and cancellation rates among working-age adults indicate accessibility issues for this group. 

Waiting Times Impact:

Stable waiting times: The CAD initiative was not specifically designed to reduce waiting lists, but has shown a potential positive impact. From January to May 2024, the waiting list for Sussex MSK Partnership remained stable, while national trends show increasing volumes. Sussex MSK has also reduced the number of patients waiting over 18 weeks, outperforming the national average. Although a direct causal link between CAD and waiting list reductions cannot be confirmed, timing correlations and qualitative findings suggest a positive influence.

Potential long-term effect: Further analysis is required to determine CAD’s long-term impact on waiting times, but current patterns, combined with low Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) rates, indicate that CAD may contribute to sustained reductions if the initiative continues.

Limitations and recommendations: 

• Data and methodology limitations: The report is based on limited data from six CAD events without a comparator group. Longitudinal data and independent qualitative data collection are recommended for a more robust evaluation. 

• Key recommendations: 

• Commission independent qualitative data collection and follow-up with non-attendees. 

• Link CAD attendee data to primary and secondary care records to assess service utilisation. 

• Refine data on PIFU usage by CAD attendees, stratified by key demographics. 

• Maintain records of review and learning activities related to CAD and implement operational improvements. 

Background on MSK care: 

• Growing demand for MSK care: MSK conditions are a leading cause of disability in the UK, significantly impacting individuals and the healthcare system. The CAD initiative in Sussex aims to address these challenges by providing a comprehensive, integrated care model in a community setting. 

Conclusion: 

The CAD initiative has achieved its goals of improving patient self-management and staff engagement. There are opportunities for further operational improvements and more comprehensive data collection to enhance future evaluations.

Download the full Community Appointment Days Evidence Review & Evaluation PDF

If you’ve looked at our work at Here and you think we’d make a good partner for your next project or you’d like to share ideas, we’d love to hear from you. 

To get in touch email: collab@hereweare.org.uk 

In the realm of healthcare, patient education plays a pivotal role in ensuring individuals understand their conditions, treatments, and how to manage their health effectively.

Shaping services around the needs of our population

We know that conveying complex medical information in a clear and accessible manner can be challenging. This is where Sussex MSK Partnership Central‘s animations step in, rethinking the way healthcare information is delivered to patients. 

Their three short videos – Introduction to Musculoskeletal Health, What to Expect and How to Prepare for Your Appointment and Person Initiated Follow Up offer simplicity in messaging, providing people with a clear understanding of the term MSK and what to expect from the service.

Accessible videos for people receiving MSK care

Accessible information about the services we offer

Jo Hall, Professional Lead at Sussex MSK Partnership, reflects: 

 As part of Personalised Care and understanding what matters most to people, we know how important it is to support people with friendly, accessible information about the services we offer, what to expect, and how to prepare, to enable them to make the most of any contact they have with us.  

It also goes beyond this – helping inform people about MSK health and beyond, offering reassurance and signposting to support living well within their community. 

By simplifying medical jargon and presenting information in a visually engaging format, people can grasp crucial healthcare insights more easily.

Through colourful visuals and dynamic storytelling, patients are not only informed but also entertained, making the learning process more enjoyable and effective. 

“We gained a lot of insight from our communities at The Big Conversation, hearing that people didn’t understand what MSK meant, who we are as a service and what we offer. It made a big difference to work with them to shape our animation to suit the needs of the end user.” Jo Hall, Professional Lead at Sussex MSK Partnership

Speaking directly to people at their Big Conversation events allowed the MSK service to understand what the local population wants and needs when it comes to accessible healthcare, helping to shape their offerings. By incorporating feedback and insights from these events, Sussex MSK Partnership Central ensured their animations provide valuable information but also resonate with and cater to the diverse needs of the community they serve. 

The team worked on the videos with local designer Katie Merrien, Founder of CommuniKate Design, who breaks down complex information into digestible, visual narratives.  

The service has also produced offline assets, including posters and leaflets, to ensure those who don’t have digital access can still benefit from the content of the video.

Furthermore, with incorporation of British Sign Language (BSL) this adds an invaluable layer of accessibility for deaf or hard of hearing individuals, ensuring that no one is left behind in understanding their healthcare journey.

Our work at Here focusses on bringing together service improvement, lived experience and data.

Last June we joined the Sussex Health Equity Fellowship, a brand new programme created by Sussex Health and Care and partnered with Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network.

We were extremely keen to be involved and were thrilled that of the eight places offered two of our team were accepted onto the programme.

Fern Bolwell, Learning Lead and Tom Golden, Business Intelligence Analyst at Here both took part in the programme. We felt that having people from both an operational and data and a analytics perspective would of huge benefit due to how equity learning could be used by these different skills areas.

In this blog, Fern shares her more about the Fellowship and reflects on what both she personally and us as an organisation have learned from the experience.

What is the Health Equity Fellowship? 

The Health Equity Fellowship is a nine-month programme delivered by NHS Sussex and Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex. The programme aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to become key change agents within their organisations, promoting a focus on equity and reducing health inequalities. 

The Fellowship is delivered through a mixture of lectures, webinars, action learning sets, mentoring and connection to each other’s knowledge and experience. Alongside this, Fellows complete a work-based project with a goal of improving health equity.

‘We know that our society is not fair and equitable, and many people face

 

 

 

systematised and institutional discrimination and cannot thrive in the conditions in which they live. We recognise the structural and cultural inequalities that are embedded in our wider society, and that this impacts our work in health and care. We recognise the inequities in the healthcare system and we want to work to address those.’ 

I have always been passionate about justice and fairness in society and ensuring everyone’s voices are heard and acted on. My professional goal is to realise this mission through the work that I am doing with Sussex MSK Partnership and ensure that health equity is always considered in each decision for the patients who need it most.  

For me the opportunity to be a part of the Fellowship came at a key moment of change for the Sussex MSK Partnership as we looked to the future and worked on how to deliver healthcare differently.

What skills did we bring?

Sussex MSK Partnership had already set aside dedicated project groups to focus on health equity. This work has been divided into 3 workstreams – Data, Staff Support and Community.

I work across each project group and was able to see where each intersected and supported the other. We first focused on an evidence-based approach through both community outreach and data gathering to ensure the changes we make, make a difference where it is most needed.

The way we work at Here meant we were able to be agile and encouraged to be innovative and forward thinking in approaches to delivering healthcare. 

What have been the results? 

The Health Equity Fellowship gave me the opportunity to grow my capability in population health, innovation and evaluation. My understanding increased in applying an equity lens to change initiatives. As well as expanding my network and connecting me to experts in a wide range of relevant areas.

Following the fellowship, I presented at Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust and Sussex Medical School’s Anti Racism event to showcase our work at Sussex MSK Partnership. 

I felt truly inspired by the dedication of the team leading the Fellowship and emboldened by their hope, even when honestly discussing the real challenge and shocking impact of inequity and prejudice.  

During the 9 months of the Fellowship I was able to work on: 

• Community Appointment Days (a patient journey offered in the community alongside VSOs).  

• Improving our data capture and reporting to be able to see, at a glance, differences between access, experience and journey of different groups of patients.

• Used our data to inform where we should be supporting our community, through this evidence, we connected with Crawley Asian networks. 

• Shared the learning from the fellowship and delivered training for all Here colleagues on health equity. 

• Simplified the interpreter booking process to address inequity.

• Created a new process to ensure patients with adjustments were flagged on our systems so that we can proactively support their needs.

What is our learning and what are we taking forward from this? 

The Fellowship experience has extended my confidence, competency and language to challenge and advocate for health equity in projects, process, the workplace and the wider world. 

I actively seek out to surface where there are challenges for patients and colleagues based on protected characteristics.  focused on fixing, improving and most importantly sharing the learning and awareness for future prevention of inequity.

I am grateful to those who speak up and teach me. It has shifted my vision to a world where I am no longer blind to inequity. 

Earlier this month Sussex Health and Care Fellowship held a webinar to share more information about the programme, Fern was invited to talk and share her experience – you can watch it in full below.

How can you get involved?  

The Sussex Health Equity Fellowship is now recruiting for a new cohort of Fellows – details on how to apply are below. 

1. Health Innovation KSS website: https://healthinnovation-kss.com/news/sussex-health-equity-fellowship-opens-for-applications/ 
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7224325761082552320
3. Twitter: https://x.com/HealthInnov_KSS/status/1818563477654417445
   
4. Applications close on 2nd September 2024, 11:59pm

PRosPer – Long Term Conditions eLearning course has just launched, featuring a case study highlighting the impact of Community Appointment Days.

Sophie Wickins, Clinical Project Manager at NHS South, Central and West (SCW) approached Georgi Daluiso-King, from Sussex MSK Partnership to contribute to the programme upon discovering Georgi’s exceptional work in Personalised Care and her involvement in Community Appointment Days (CADs).

SCW’s Cancer and Long Term Conditions Team have developed the new PRosPer (Prehabilitation, Rehabilitation and Personalised Care) for Long Term Conditions eLearning for Health module on behalf of NHS England.

This collaborative piece of work was developed using the clinical and service redesign skills from within the SCW team and front-line clinicians doing amazing work in the field.

The case study is included in the Strategic Level module, which follows on from the 2 earlier modules (Foundation and Intermediate).

The case study states:

Sussex MSK Partnership Central is a joint venture delivered by Here (a not-for-profit social enterprise) and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust. 

 

They have truly embraced the PRosPer principles for improving services for people with LTCs. They have addressed every element of the House of Care through the development of their services.

Combining these insights and in-depth understanding of transforming clinical services, the module aims to provide practical examples and opportunities for clinicians, clinical leads, commissioners and people with strategic decision-making powers in developing the knowledge required to deliver quality improvements in their services and influence system change.    

We are pleased to confirm that this session is now live on the NHS Learning hub:    

Session link: https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/PRosPer-long-term-conditions?nodeId=7616 

Programme/catalogue link: https://learninghub.nhs.uk/Catalogue/PRosPer-long-term-conditions 

Have an idea or a project you think we could work together on? We’d love to collaborate with you!

Get in touch at: collab@hereweare.org.uk