Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to promote musculoskeletal health during the covid-19 outbreak.

Public Health England (PHE) is working with key partners including NHS England and NHS Improvement, the British Society of Rheumatology, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and other professional bodies and third sector parties such as Versus Arthritis and Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance to promote musculoskeletal (MSK) health during COVID-19. This has included the ‘We are Undefeatable campaign’ for people with long term health conditions and a partnership with the BBC to promote Couch to 5K. Further information can be accessed at the following links:

https://weareundefeatable.co.uk/

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week

In May 2020, PHE hosted a webinar on the Impact of COVID-19 on Musculoskeletal Health and Mental Wellbeing, with participants attending from a range of organisations including local authorities, private businesses and academia.

In April 2020, PHE re-issued advice on vitamin D supplementation as recommended by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition; whilst stay at home measures were in place it was recommended that everyone take a daily vitamin D supplement to keep bones and muscles healthy. This advice was not about preventing COVID-19 or mitigating its effects.

The Every Mind Matters online resource provides some simple advice and support on physical and mental wellbeing for people who are working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/7-simple-tips-to-tackle-working-from-home/