Our Response to the Men’s Health Strategy 

In April, the government announced plans for England’s first Men’s Health Strategy, aimed at addressing the life expectancy gap and health conditions that disproportionately affect men.

To help shape the strategy, the government launched a call for evidence – and we responded. We used this as an opportunity to highlight the estimated 8.7 million men in England living with arthritis and MSK conditions whose needs must be recognised.

We highlighted gout throughout our response, as gout is more common in men, with 66,000 people newly diagnosed with gout each year. This included tackling some of the myths around gout and that it is caused by the high consumption of rich foods and alcohol. While diet can play a part in triggering flair ups, gout is actually caused by high levels of uric acid in the body.

These misconceptions can lead to poor patient experience, poor treatment options, and stigma. We know that treatments for gout can be very successful but often people are not getting the care they need.

What do we want to see included in the Men’s Health Strategy?

The government must play its part in helping to address the things that can increase the risk of developing arthritis and other MSK conditions, as well as things that can make managing them more challenging. MSK conditions also share risk factors common with other long-term conditions.

These risk factors include smoking, being overweight or having obesity, being physically inactive, and not seeking help from your GP when you need it. We know that trying to manage your weight or remain physically active can be much harder when you have arthritis or an MSK condition, which is why we are calling on the government for more support in this area. With the right information, the right support and the right environment, it can be made easier.

We’ve asked the government to increase funding to oversubscribed weight-management services and to invest in physical activity programmes. These services also need to consider the needs of men, to encourage more men to join.  We highlighted the Walking Football initiative, which provides a space for men to engage in physical activity and offers a sense of community, through joining a group that can help you meet people in your local area.

There is also a well-documented link between MSK conditions and mental health conditions. It can feel difficult for men to take that first step to get mental health support, and that can be made even harder by long wait lists. We have asked the Department of Health and Social Care to significantly increase funding to mental health services, ensure that staff are trained to meet people’s MSK and mental health needs, and have programmes that are designed for men.

We spoke to men in our community who highlighted the lack of representation of men in awareness campaigns, support networks, or in designing initiatives. As a result, we are calling for tailored plans that meet the needs of men, providing support in a way that is accessible and encourages men to reach out.

What’s next?

The Department of Health and Social Care will review all the consultation responses they received and use them to shape the Men’s Health Strategy for England.

We will continue to push for arthritis to be taken seriously by the government, and to make sure that the voices of our community are heard.

We’re here for you

If you need more advice or support, remember you can: