Embedding personalised approaches in joint pain care - two years in

Matt Evans, Senior Change Manager, It's All About People Personalisation Programme reflects on a successful project to embed personalisation for people with hip and knee pain in Lincolnshire.

It's now two years since I joined the It's All About People Personalisation Programme Team. That's gone far too quickly! 

Over that period, a key focus has been working with colleagues to introduce and embed personalised care approaches for people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, primarily hip and knee pain.

Key to the success of this project has been co-production with people with lived experience of this form of pain - we've worked with a range of people at various stages of their journey. To a person, they've been fantastically generous with their time and input - so much so, they ended up becoming a steering group for our work! 

This group, with input from NHS teams, community providers, and contracted services, has reviewed and refreshed existing practices, innovated new ideas and approaches, and started to connect fragmented parts of the health system.

Our learning through this work led to us organise an event - the Grantham Joint Aches and Pains Hub (also known as the MSK Health Village). This incredible community-based 'one-stop-shop' for people with joint pain created so much attention that we developed a How-To Guide, supporting other teams and services to organise and run their own events.

The MSK work is a collaborative, person-centred approach to healthcare. By prioritising personalised support, co-production, and empowerment, it has significantly enhanced people's experiences of joint pain care and support, making it more effective and accessible.

We are all extremely proud of the work we have done together and hope it continues to inspire other people to think differently. 

READ Our Work in MSK Report for a summary of our work.  

VISIT Personalised Approaches in Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service redesign to find out more about this project and the other work we've driven to improve care for those with joint pain. 

LISTEN to our MSK / Joint Pain Podcasts by clicking on the images below.

Heading to pastures new

As for me, well, I'll be leaving this wonderful team in April to join the Outpatient team at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Obviously, I'll be taking my passion for personalised care and all of the wonderful learnings this project has afforded, with me.

It has been an absolute pleasure!