What is the Welsh Government doing to tackle health inequalities for those with musculoskeletal disorders in Wales, a disproportionate number of which are Black Caribbean or Pakistani?
The Welsh Government has a longstanding commitment to a “health in all policies approach”. This approach is supported by Health Impact Assessments and the strategic planning required by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
The Welsh Government recognises that a significant proportion of the population in Wales experience musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and that they can disproportionally affect certain groups of citizens and are linked to deprivation, ethnicity, age, and gender. We have been working closely with the National Clinical Leads for MSK and our partners across the healthcare service to co-produce the Quality Statement for MSK Health. This document is due to be published in October 2023 and will set out the Welsh Government’s vision for the development of improved MSK care across Wales, including equitable access to MSK services on a local, regional and national basis.
The Welsh Government has also awarded funding of £8.0m to support up to 7,000 employed and self-employed people with mental health and musculoskeletal health conditions across Wales through our In-Work Support Service. The service will be available until March 2025. The service plays a vital role in helping people with mental health and musculoskeletal health conditions to retain employment by aiming to prevent people from becoming absent from work and helping those on a sickness absence to return to work more quickly.