Resident Co-design Sessions for Community Musculoskeletal (MSK) Services 2024

To ensure the experience of those who have previously used the MSK service, or are currently using the service, is reflected and used to deliver improvements for patients, Carers and residents across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, BLMK ICB asked Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire to arrange a series of focus groups to give local residents the opportunity to share their experience and help co-design the Community MSK service model.  They spoke to 30 people.

Many were dissatisfied with the current MSK service on offer and felt that changes needed to be made to improve the quality of service for all residents. In addition, many people mentioned the necessity to seek private treatment as they were either ‘waiting too long’ for treatment or were ‘struggling to navigate a system that was not fit for purpose’. For those that could not afford private treatment they were ‘forced’ to accept a bad quality of service. Others had a more positive experience and were happy with the service received. One lady told us that her son had been referred to Physio and they actually came to the school to do exercises with him, which she described as a ‘fantastic service’.