Keele researchers are embarking on an important new study to investigate the challenges deprived communities face when accessing musculoskeletal (MSK) care. 

The ‘Way-in to MSK’ study, led by the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, has been funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School of Primary Care Research (SPCR) and initially aims to improve the delivery of MSK services to communities in two specific areas - Enfield, north London, and Stoke-on-Trent - before applying learnings more widely.  

The new study focuses on communities that experience economic and social deprivation in each of the two research areas. Feedback from the SPCR identified this research study to be an important project with the potential to have enormous impact on patients and carers as well as primary and secondary care services. 

Timely access to musculoskeletal services in primary care is important because early intervention can prevent long-term disability in patients. Such conditions not only have a significantly detrimental impact on the patients and their families, but also increase cost and resource pressures on the NHS.  

The researchers will analyse the challenges these communities face when accessing primary MSK care through in-depth interviews. The knowledge gained from this will be mobilised across local health services with the aim of developing a comprehensive care model to effectively address the challenges identified. This new model will be co-designed by stakeholders and local communities and lead to future research and transformation of local health services.   

Alice Moult, Research Fellow in Keele’s School of Medicine, is one of the researchers involved and said: “We are looking forward to working with our local community to understand how we can support access to these much needed services; the community voice will be at the heart of this study.” 

Anthony Gilbert, a post-doctoral research physiotherapist at RNOH who is leading the study, said: “We have seen first-hand how difficult it is for people to access MSK care, particularly when they have competing priorities like work, juggling scarce finances or accessing food banks to feed their families. This research will help to understand what patients require to in order to access the musculoskeletal care they need.”