The department has been awarded a Strategic Grant by Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) to take forward its “MSK (musculoskeletal) Calculator” initiative. The overall aim of the project is to develop four (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain and high fracture risk) estimates of prevalence and need for healthcare at general practice and small resident population levels, and to relate this to actual and expected activity and costs, and where possible intervention thresholds and cost-effectiveness. The Grant, for which the department will receive a total of £180K over the next year, will enable ARUK to disseminate the models in useful formats through its website and other national information portals. The department has wide experience in developing chronic disease prevalence models, having been funded for this purpose by the Department of Health, the Association of Public Health Observatories/Public Health England, the Care Quality Commission and Alzheimer’s Research UK. These models are available through several national information portals and have been widely used within the NHS.
The integration of Work Coaches (WCs) & Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) into UK General Practice (GP) provides an innovative approach to bridging the gap between health & employment services. We now reflect on the findings of our recent study led by Shriti Patani, Lara Shemtob & Kabir Varghese in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London. The study explored the benefits & challenges of integrating emplyment support services in primary care from the perspectives of GPs & work coaches. What’s the context? Employment is a critical social determinant of health, with unemployment linked to poorer physical & mental wellbeing & reduced quality of life. Traditionally, individuals seeking employment support access services through Jobcentres. However, barriers including stigma or lack of awareness - especially in people with disabilities or long-term health conditions -...
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