MSKPN Winter newsletter 2025
MSKPN Winter newsletter 11.12.25
Contents
1. Chairs welcome
2. Member’s survey
3. Leadership Programme
4. Quality update
5. Minimum dataset MSKPN Quality and Safety Standards
6. Blog
7. Industry and Partners update
8. Webinar summaries and upcoming
9. MSKPN Rewards reminder
10. News
1. Chair’s welcome – Simon Devane
In summary it has been a good year for most, demand for MSK services has remained strong throughout 2025, and speaking to members it seems most of you have enjoyed and benefited from a positive trading environment. There are no indications that this strong consumer demand is going to change heading into 2026; the issues with the NHS will remain, younger age groups are actively engaging with private primary care services, employers are under increasing demand from staff to support their health and wellbeing, insurers are predicting further growth in 2026 on the back of +10% growth in recent years.
As a sector, we remain challenged by the commissioning arrangements with the PMI’s, and this remains a key focus for MSKPN to try and improve the terms for our members. In the new year we will be engaging with WPA and Healix to develop a regular dialogue alongside the regular meetings with BUPA, AXA Health and Vitality, which covers all the major insurers.
‘AI’ has been one of the hot topics for 2025. While the pace of change can be unsettling it seems that a significant number of members have engaged with this new technology or are proactively looking at how they might incorporate it into their businesses. We look forward to further discussions and no doubt more ‘AI’ related webinars in 2026.
Thank you to all our members for the support you have given to MSKPN this year, your commitment helps us to grow and strengthen our community. We remain dedicated to delivering everything you’ve come to expect and building on that: meaningful webinars, valuable rewards, opportunities to build your leadership skills, networking that really counts and a supportive, connected community.
A big thank you to my fellow Directors Tash, Karen, Steven and Cam for all the hard work and support over the last 12 months and to Lucy for leading and driving forward the quality agenda. Finally, a special thank you to Ali Rogan and Janet Morrison who do an incredible amount of work behind the scenes to keep us organised and on track.
Wishing you and enjoyable festive period and every success in 2026 and we very much look forward to seeing you at our networking event on the 14 January in London.
Simon
2. Members survey
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to complete our annual survey, which is invaluable in helping us shape our activities. Encouragingly, we received 20 responses this year. Your input directly guides our priorities and workstreams for the coming year.
Most pressing needs
The overwhelming needs of MSKPN members in 2026 centre on commercial issues including PMIs, business growth, diversifying revenue streams, marketing and profitability. Workforce concerns, such as recruitment, remuneration pathways and retention, also remain significant. Technology continues to be a key focus as well, particularly in areas like AI, cybersecurity and digital capability.
Key things you need help with in 2026
Engagement with other members and the directors is ranked highest among the areas you want MSKPN to support over the next 12 months, with 45% of respondents selecting it. This was closely followed by AI/cyber security with 40%. A range of other needs include support with growing your business, PMI dialogue, recruitment, shared resources, increasing the value of physio and quality and proving the ROI for this.
You speak, we act
We have already taken the following actions
· Arranged a budget webinar in December
· Arranged a networking event in January
· Set the webinar schedule for the first quarter to include cyber security, growth and PMI
See the full analysis MSKPN-Survey-analysis-Nov-25.pdf
3. Leadership programme
Our leadership programme is coming to a close with sessions from September to December. We’re thankful to Pure Sports Medicine and Six Physio for hosting and of course Fletch for running them so brilliantly.
With 12 people enthusiastically participating, the feedback so far has been very positive.
“Great to connect with a high calibre group of peers and dive straight into meaningful discussion.”
“A few takeaways that resonated deeply:
• Trust is built on competence and character.
• Leadership is about intentional influence – guiding behaviour in the right direction.
• Pre-mortem thinking outperforms post-mortem reflection – anticipate challenges before they arise.”
If you need to know more, please contact [email protected]
4. Quality update
Benchmark your clinic against MSKPN data for knees and backs
The Government’s new requirement for PREMs and PROMs across all healthcare interventions by 2029, together with the HCPC’s 15 quality standards introduced in Sept 2023, marks a turning point.
As physios, measuring quality is no longer optional – it’s essential.
MSKPN has been collecting and benchmarking its data for five years and now can present on over 60,000 separate data collection points.
Take a look at the extract and see the impressive results for our knees and backs, for example
· knee pain PSFS (Patient-Specific Functional Scale) improved by 82% at 12 months.
Any questions, please ask Dr Lucy Goldby, MSKPN Quality Lead and Director at Balance Performance Physiotherapy – [email protected]
5. Minimum dataset MSKPN Quality and Safety Standards
Alongside the quality standards that we have operationalised across our membership and actively promote as the basis for measuring effective care, we are adding some fundamental safety standards which underpin safe, well governed care. The majority of these safety standards are HCPC requirements, and most should be familiar to you or easy to get further information on – outlined in the attached document.
We need to continue the push to improve standards within the sector and educate consumers and commissioners, of what good looks like – having a clear set of standards is fundamental this goal.
Take a look at the document and let us know of any feedback. MSKPN-Quality-Safety-Standards.pdf
6. Blog
G’day AI
Curious about how #AI is shaping the future of #MSK?
Our latest blog by Cameron Tudor, MSKPN Board Director and MD of West London Physiotherapy, dives into the latest developments and shares how you can get involved.
Read the blog https://www.mskpn.co.uk/our-work/how-our-mskpn-community-is-getting-on-board-with-artificial-intelligence/
7. Strategic Partnerships
IHPN (Independent Healthcare Provider Network) – Quarterly meetings with David Hare (CEO) and members of his team, who provide valuable insight into the wider private sector, including key NHS and political updates.
Physio First – We have a good collaborative working relationship with the Chair, Katie Knapton, with joined up discussions around quality and pressing the CSP to better support the private and independent sector.
CSP – Alongside having Claire Small on council, MSKPN has been engaged this year to participate in a round table discussion on how the CSP can better support the private and independent sector.
8. Webinars
a. Here’s a reminder of our webinars over the last 5 months:
Date Topic
30 July Business Briefing: Operational aspects
Jo Turner, Physiotherapist/Clinic Owner, director of Mehab and host of the You Matter Podcast
● Workforce/recruitment/HR advice
● Leadership programme
● Education and resources
● Insurance
10 Sept Quality update
Dr Lucy Goldby, MSKPN Quality Lead The session focused on the financial viability and benefits of using the Cemplicity platform for data collection and quality assurance. The platform, which collects data from 30 clinics, 234 physiotherapists, and over 10,000 patients, showed significant improvements in patient outcomes.
Lucy provided an update on how to use the data eg sharing with PMIs, externally on your website and how to present your outcomes. https://www.mskpn.co.uk/our-work/event/mskpn-webinar-improving-quality/
15 Oct AI part 1 – Will AI change private practice as we know it?
Guest: Simon Gilchrist, Director of Mayfair Health Chair: Cameron Tudor, MSKPN Director and Managing Director, West London Physio
A packed webinar featuring MSK clinicians and clinic owners discussing how AI is already reshaping private MSK practice – from admin and marketing to clinical care.
We explored what’s hype, what’s genuinely useful today and how AI could transform the way we work, lead and compete in the coming years.
MSKPN Webinar – Will AI Change Private Practice as We Know It
26 Nov AI part 2 – How AI is Transforming MSK Practice (and Beyond)
Guest Speaker: Dr. Harvinder Power – Co-Founder & CEO at Motics Chair: Cameron Tudor, MSKPN Director and Managing Director, West London Physio
We showcased practical examples, shared best practice and explored how AI is reshaping key areas of healthcare – from patient records and diagnostics to admin and communication.
We discussed how AI tools are already being used in patient notes and letters, billing and reception/phone systems and learnt what these innovations mean for the future of MSK practice.
See recording here https://www.mskpn.co.uk/our-work/event/mskpn-ai-webinar-part-2-how-ai-is-transforming-msk-practice-and-beyond/
3 Dec Budget – implications for your practice
Chair: Simon Devane, CEO Pure Sports Medicine, Chair MSKPN
Super interesting session, discussing the challenging budget for anyone running a small to medium sized business. From business rates, staff costs, pensions and EMI, we discussed ways of alleviating the impact such as software and AI.
See recording here: MSKPN Webinar: Budget briefing Nov 25 – implications for your practice
b. Here’s our upcoming schedule 2026 – save the dates (12.00-13.00)
· 28 Jan – Growth Q&A
· 25 Feb – PMI feedback session
· 15 Apr – IT/cyber security
· 20 May
· 1 Jul
· 2 Sep
· 14 oct
· 25 Nov
9. MSKPN Rewards
Have you taken advantage of the MSKPN Rewards yet – discounts from marketing agencies, product suppliers or business mentors and more. See them all here
10. News
CSP research – Return on Investment for Physiotherapy in the UK
· £35 return for every £1 invested in physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis
· £30 return for every £1 invested for hip osteoarthritis
· £129 million saved annually for the NHS through physiotherapy led pulmonary rehabilitation
· £4.95 billion in economic benefit over five years for falls and frailty prevention
· £723 million direct savings to the NHS across the four interventions
· 4:1 overall return on investment when health and wider economic benefits are combined Read the full report – www.csp.org.uk/roi
As ever, any feedback or questions, please let us know at [email protected]
Best wishes and seasons greetings.
From Simon, Natasha, Karen, Steven, Cam, Ali and Janet