Lambeth’s first Musculoskeletal Community Day
Friday 16 March 2024 saw Lambeth’s first Musculoskeletal (MSK) Community Day, designed to tackle muscle and joint pain whilst boosting overall wellbeing for people living with musculoskeletal conditions.
The packed event took place at the Black Prince Trust’s community hub in Kennington, where 250 people on a routine MSK physiotherapy waiting list were invited to attend.
Participants began their day in the Conversation Café where they could talk about what matters to them with a clinician. They were then encouraged to visit the main hall to speak to services offering a range of help and support from charities and local organisations such as Age UK, Mind and Citizens Advice.
The event was organised jointly between musculoskeletal departments based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Vita Health Group, Lambeth. It was supported by local community organisations and the Lambeth Together Neighbourhood and Wellbeing Delivery Alliance.
Gareth Jones, Advanced Practice Physiotherapist said: “For so many people, they’re coming to us with struggles beyond just their muscular aches and pains. For example, they’re having issues with isolation, or they might be experiencing heightened levels of psychological distress, amongst other kinds of social considerations as well.
“So, the purpose of this event was really to offer our patients an opportunity – to speak with a physiotherapist; and at the same time, connect them with other services in the community, so they can get more meaningful and relevant care and support.”
Josepha Reynolds, Programme Director for the Neighbourhood and Wellbeing Delivery Alliance said: “Our Alliance partners are committed to supporting people with long-term health conditions and who are living with chronic pain. We want to help more people be supported holistically so they can manage their health independently, with support from community-based services where possible. This event, which was designed with input from members of the South East London Integrated Care System MSK Lived Experience Group, has been a really positive example of where excellent community engagement, co-creation and partnership work collide”.
Feedback from participants at the event:
“I had no idea so much was available for free. I now feel supported fully with so many different options. I’ve got some information about weight control which I feel is the way forward for me. I feel more confident that my hip replacement is going to happen as they’ve looked into that for me. And, after speaking to the physio, I’ve confirmed for myself the hydrocortisone injection isn’t the way to go.”
“It’s been a really good experience and quite eye opening to see the range of services that are available.”
– Keith.
“All the people have been really nice. I’m very happy with the physio and I now have an appointment booked with them. It was so lovely to speak to someone in Spanish. I was surprised to find out more things – I’ve been able to ask about housing, health, activities and many other things. I didn’t expect this!”
– Gladys.
“I was reluctant to come as I didn’t know how a community event applied to me and my circumstances. It’s been a really positive experience. They’re going to make me a physiotherapy appointment. And there were other things that perhaps I didn’t know I needed. Talking to the pain management counsellor, they thought maybe I would benefit from a grief counsellor as my husband died recently, so I’m going to speak to someone today. And I’d heard of Age UK before, but until I spoke to someone I didn’t realise they were really for me. You see, I’ve never been old before, so I don’t actually know how it all works!”
– Kamla.
“Being part of this event has opened my eyes to lots of services I wasn’t aware of that I can refer people to. Which is great as our aim is to help people self-manage and be as independent as possible.”
– Rachael Robinson, Advanced Therapy Assistant from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
More information
MSK Community Day – South East London ICS (selondonics.org) – read more about the events and who can attend.
NWDA priorities – Lambeth Together – find out more about the Neighbourhood and Wellbeing Delivery Alliance and what we’re working on.