In the space of a week, I attended 3 events that left me with mixed emotions about the future of heath care.

The World Physiotherapy conference in Tokyo is an event which brings together world leaders, researchers and clinicians into the same space to learn and enhance our practice, share stories and most importantly make a difference. 

I can’t help thinking we have missed an opportunity to think radically and lever our collective power and opportunity. The global burden is one that is not going away and the sustainability of healthcare is fragile.  The health burden is increasing and set to rise on a backdrop of an ageing population, and increasing prevalence of major conditions, and where we recognise the influence of the social determinants of health on people’s lives. 

There is overwhelming evidence that changing people’s health-related behaviour can have a major impact on some of the largest causes of mortality and morbidity.

The future of physiotherapy

In my opinion the future role of physiotherapy is one in which society needs something very different from us. The context in which we work will change, and what we do in this context matters. We will need to develop different skills, adopt new roles, work in different environments in collaboration with other professions and across our own specialities. We will need to blur the edges, let go of our identity as we know it, but create a new one that adapts, and is agile. There were glimpses of this, for example Ash James (UK) talked about the need for more generalists and Marjo Maas (Norway) on ‘Preparing Physiotherapists for the Future’, asking not only what we teach but for what world, because that world is rapidly changing.  

I saw the need to justify the professions existence and impact through economic analysis, focusing on single conditions and diseases. We absolutely add value to people’s lives, but we need to be more than just a ‘condition’ and measure our impact beyond a body part. 

The second event was ‘Stronger Things’ an event organised by New Local an independent think tank that brings together public services with a mission to transform and unlock community power.  It conveyed a powerful vision in which community power needs to be built and nurtured from within. The event reaffirmed the importance of relational public services, where trust, inclusion, and empowerment are central and the future lies in partnerships with people and places. 

And lastly the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) event in Birmingham ‘challenging concepts in MSK’. There was a real sense of wanting to do things differently and working to do just that despite working within the constraints of a system which are industrialised and mechanised and puts its priority on productivity and efficiency above all else. 

The future of healthcare

Treating populations with increasingly complex chronic and lifestyle illnesses requires more care, more wellness behaviours and more health promotion.  

The future of healthcare is one which is much more capable of understanding a person’s context beyond the specific condition they present, recognising the individual as an active participant in their own health outcomes and addressing the social determinants of health. 

Healthcare must embrace relational practice—building trust, time, and collaboration into every interaction. The future of sustainable care lies not in doing more to people, but in working with them. This cultural transformation is essential for meeting the complex needs of tomorrow’s population. 

None of this is new and while there are promising pockets of transformation, we’ve spent too long describing the problem. Now is the moment to shift from conversation to action. The scale of change may feel daunting, but by starting small, building partnerships, and embracing new ways of working, we can unlock momentum. We have the knowledge, the evidence, and the will. What we need now is the collective courage to reimagine care, not as something we deliver to people, but something we create with them. The future of healthcare depends on it. 

Here and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust are delighted to officially welcome Kirsty Coates as Partnership Director for Sussex MSK Health. Kirsty also joins Here’s Enabling Team, bringing a strong track record in service transformation, operational leadership and cross-sector partnership working. 

Kirsty is already well-known to many Here.

As our former Head of Operations, she played a key role in shaping innovative services and led the organisation’s COVID-19 vaccination programme. Since then, she has continued to build experience in senior roles across the NHS and voluntary sector, most recently as Operations Director at Social Tech Trust, where she focused on using technology to drive social impact.

In her new role, Kirsty will work in partnership with colleagues across Here, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and the wider system to lead the development of Sussex MSK Health — an integrated service for people with musculoskeletal conditions across Brighton & Hove and West Sussex. Her focus will be on supporting collaboration, improving outcomes, and ensuring people can access the right care at the right time. 

Kirsty Coates added: “It’s a real pleasure to return to Here at such an exciting and important time. I’m passionate about working in partnership to develop person-centred, sustainable services, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the next chapter of Sussex MSK Health alongside such a dedicated and talented team.”

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