Arthritis News & Musculoskeletal News from ARMA's Members

A new Health Secretary. A new opportunity for MSK health?

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

May 2026

Like many people working across health and care, I watched the latest ministerial changes with mixed feelings. A new Health Secretary always brings uncertainty. Priorities can shift, momentum can be lost, relationships need to be rebuilt, but moments like this also create opportunity.

For those of us working to improve musculoskeletal (MSK) health, a new Health Secretary is a chance to make a simple but important case: MSK health must become a national priority.…

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ORUK’s Funding for MSK start-ups

Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) is offering up to £100k through the Ronald Furlong Fund to support early‑stage startups working on practical, evidence‑based solutions in musculoskeletal health.

Named in honour of the charity’s founder, who combined successful careers as an orthopaedic surgeon and entrepreneur, the Fund is designed to help entrepreneurs accelerate innovative and commercially viable ideas that solve the unmet needs of society around bone, joint and muscle wellbeing.

ORUK has investments in seven early stage MSK businesses, some of whom applied through the Ronald Furlong Fund.…

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Joint Venture MSK Innovation website

ORUK launches website for Joint Venture MSK innovation initiative

Following a series of successful events under the Joint Venture label, Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) has launched a dedicated website for the Joint Venture MSK Innovation initiative.

Joint Venture is a community of innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and others interested in driving innovation and entrepreneurship within MSK health. It is designed to create a forum for debate, a force for positive change (especially in tackling systemic barriers to innovation), an incubator of new ideas and tangible solutions and a dynamic and supportive network.…

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Accelerating Clinical Trials webinar

Accelerating MedTech Clinical Trials: New models, real world delivery, & why the UK can lead

20 May 2026, 11am-12.30pm

Undertaking clinical trials for MedTech devices in the UK has traditionally been expensive and slow. This webinar will explore how the delivery of clinical studies can be transformed, and the UK become a leading destination for MedTech clinical development and commercial studies.

The webinar, which is hosted by Orthopaedic Research UK, in association with clinical trials specialist VerIQ and the National Orthopaedic Alliance, will feature a distinguished group of speakers representing industry, regulation, clinical practice, and clinical research delivery.…

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New bilingual website for MSK services and patient support

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have published their bilingual signposting information to better support people living with musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions. Their website, available in both English and Welsh, can also be accessed via the signposting padlet (downloadable posters and business cards) and allows patients to access a variety of information including local health services, self-referrals to physiotherapy and self-management.

The Signposting update was undertaken by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Boards MSK Joint Services Advisory Group in which members of the North Wales ARMA Network play an active role.

Learning pathways at SOMM

The landscape of postgraduate education and CPD is changing. Increasingly, clinicians are seeking flexibility in how they learn — whether that means attending individual days, foundation units or broader programmes without formal assessment. SOMM recognises and supports this evolving approach to learning.

At the same time, SOMM has long been known for something very specific: a rigorous, assessed and credit‑bearing route that demonstrates verified competence in musculoskeletal medicine. For many employers, assessment remains a critical marker of quality, providing assurance that knowledge and clinical skills have been tested, not just taught.…

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Everyday MSK presentations

Key conditions: everyday musculoskeletal presentations to red flag cases

Wednesday 15^th July 2026, 6pm to 9pm
Online via Microsoft Teams

Gain a clear, structured overview of a range of MSK conditions in this three-hour webinar. Learn to recognise mechanical and inflammatory patterns, manage complexity, and identify cases requiring rapid referral. Includes practical guidance, physical activity principles, resource handouts, Q&A, and three CPD points.

More details and booking.

Effective consultations webinar series

Effective consultations digital: examination, diagnosis, and management of musculoskeletal presentations

Tuesday 3rd June 2026, 7pm to 8:45pm (occurring weekly over 4 weeks)
Online via Microsoft Teams

Build confidence in MSK consultations with this four-week interactive online course for primary care. Learn structured approaches to assessment, diagnosis, and communication across common presentations. Includes live webinars, practical discussion, optional homework, digital resources, and 7 CPD points. Ideal for anyone undertaking MSK consultations in busy clinical settings.

More details and booking here.

The Scottish Report from NRAS

The Scottish Report: Improving Care for People Living with Inflammatory Conditions

The new Scotland‑wide survey by NRAS, The Scottish Report, has revealed significant challenges faced by people living with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. These are long‑term, often invisible conditions that can affect joints, organs, skin and the bowel, and impact around one in ten people.

The Scottish Report is based on the results of the NRAS survey carried out in Autumn 2025, with over 1,250 respondents from across Scotland.…

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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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