Arthritis News & Musculoskeletal News from ARMA's Members

Moving beyond BMI. Putting people before thresholds.

by Adrian Bradley, CEO, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA)

I welcome the new report from Arthritis UK and Deborah Alsina’s powerful blog. It shines a clear light on an issue ARMA and our members have raised consistently: access to care must be based on clinical need, not arbitrary thresholds.

For people living with musculoskeletal conditions, this is not an abstract policy debate. It is about pain, function and the ability to live a full life. When joint replacement is delayed or denied, people don’t just wait.…

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Aftercare following steroid injection – patient info

This easy‑read, high‑quality Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) has been developed to support both patients and clinicians following musculoskeletal corticosteroid injection (CSI) in clinical settings. Providing patients with clear, consistent aftercare advice following CSI is recognised as best recommended practice and should form part of standard care.

Key features:

EASY-READ- Written for a reading age of 11. This leaflet ensures clarity and promotes accessibility to patients with varying literacy. Empower patients with better understanding and adherence to treatment plan and onward rehabilitation.

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FREE SOMM Joint Injection Skills Workshop

The Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine (SOMM) is hosting a FREE Joint Injection Skills workshop at their HQ in Liverpool on the Wednesday 13th May 2026, 9:30 to 4pm.

It will be an interactive training day, bringing together expert clinicians to provide practical, evidence-based guidance on injection techniques, hyaluronic acid therapy, and ultrasound application in musculoskeletal practice.

Note places are limited and completion of this form does not necessarily guarantee a place in the workshop. A confirmation email will be provided to all delegates to confirm registration.…

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One set of Standards for Regulators including BASRaT

BASRaT has welcomed the news that the PSA is introducing a single set of Regulation Standards to apply to both Accredited Registers and Statutory Regulators. This aligns the standards for BASRaT with regulators including the GMC and HCPC.

The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) is the UK’s independent regulatory oversight body. Working with the PSA, BASRaT regulates and guides Sport Rehabilitators on their role and responsibilities ensuring professional competency and development.

HIPPOCRATES Prospective Observational Study

Help the Psoriasis Association recruit for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) study

A new study looking at the development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is looking for volunteers to take part – all from the comfort of their own home.

The HIPPOCRATES Prospective Observational Study (HPOS), led by the University of Oxford in collaboration with University College Dublin, is part of a wider research project investigating psoriatic arthritis across Europe.

Participants with psoriasis will be monitored over a three-year period to see who develops PsA.…

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ICBs ration surgeries with BMI thresholds

Arthritis UK Urges ICBs to Scrap BMI Threshold Policies Used to Ration Surgeries

Almost a fifth of ICBs in England are rationing joint replacement surgery based on a person’s BMI, an approach that contradicts NICE guidance for the diagnosis and management of osteoarthritis.

These policies vary across England, creating a postcode lottery where patients may be denied access to life-changing treatment based on where they live rather than clinical need. Many patients are also required to lose weight before surgery but are not given access to the weight management services needed to do so.…

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ARMA Welcomes the Neighbourhood health framework

NHS England Policy Paper

Neighbourhood health framework

Published 17 March 2026

We welcome the new Neighbourhood Health Framework because it moves neighbourhood health in the right direction.

It sees neighbourhood health as more than NHS reconfiguration.
It supports a prevention-first model.
It values continuity, co-ordination and multidisciplinary care.
It connects health to wider outcomes such as work, independence and participation.

That is close to ARMA’s vision of putting the NHS in the context of the places and communities it serves, not treating health as something created by services alone.…

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NRAS launches Healthcare Champions Awards

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is marking a major milestone in 2026—its 25th anniversary—by launching the Healthcare Champions Awards, a nationwide initiative celebrating excellence across the rheumatology community.

The awards highlight the dedication, innovation and compassion shown by professionals who support the UK’s 500,000 people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Patients and families are invited to nominate rheumatologists, nurses, therapists, pharmacists or entire teams who have made a meaningful difference in their care.

To encourage participation, NRAS has released a downloadable poster featuring a QR code that allows patients to submit nominations directly from their smartphones while waiting for appointments.…

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Time to give all patients with RA the ‘Right Start’

25 June 2026, 12-1pm
Webinar

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is encouraging healthcare professionals across the UK to refer patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to its Right Start programme, a free support service designed to help people understand and manage their condition from the earliest stages to those who have lived with RA for a long time.

NRAS will host a dedicated webinar on 25 June, led by Healthcare Engagement Manager Sarah Parsons, to guide clinicians through the referral process and highlight the benefits patients receive.…

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RCC welcomes their new President, Stuart Smellie

At their winter conference, Stuart Smellie formally began his term as President of The Royal College of Chiropractors (RCC). This follows a year serving as President-Elect.

Bringing more than three decades of clinical experience, Stuart has had a longstanding involvement in postgraduate education, professional standards, and leadership roles. Having served as a trustee since 2010 and spending 15 years as their Director of Academic Affairs, he has contributed to the academic and professional development of the Royal College for many years.…

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