MSK & Arthritis News

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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Denied by BMI: How ICB policies are failing patients with arthritis

Deborah AlsinaGuest Blog by Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK

Across England, people with arthritis are being left to wait in pain for joint replacement surgery that could transform their lives. Almost a fifth of ICBs are ignoring NICE guidelines and rationing surgeries based on a single arbitrary threshold, a patient’s BMI. Moreover, a further 54.7% have policies that restrict or alter access to surgery in some other way for those who are overweight or have obesity. Joint replacement surgery is not a lifestyle choice; it’s the bridge from living in constant pain to regaining independence.…

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Knee OA report from Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber

This report provides patient-led insights into the lived experience of knee osteoarthritis (OA) across the Yorkshire and Humber region. It explores how OA affects quality of life, mental health, and access to treatment, particularly within the NHS musculoskeletal (MSK) care pathway.

Through in-depth interviews with patients at various stages of the total knee replacement (TKR) journey, five key themes emerged:

  1. Impact on daily life and independence
  2. Emotional and psychological burden
  3. Frustrations with the NHS care pathway
  4. Hesitancy and barriers around TKR surgery
  5. Interest in and limited awareness of AposHealth®, a medical shoe, as a non-surgical alternative.
…

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20 Million Reasons our new strategy matters

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

Publishing a new strategy is always a moment to pause. Not just to look ahead, but to reflect on why the choices you’re making matter and why now is the right time to be ambitious.

ARMA’s new strategy is grounded in a simple but powerful truth: there are 20 million reasons to act. Over 20 million people in the UK live with a musculoskeletal condition. Each one is a reason – a person with a life, a job, a family, ambitions and frustrations – whose experience of pain, mobility and independence is too often overlooked in public policy.…

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Living Well with Arthritis course – health and care professional survey

Arthritis UK is developing a course to support health and care professionals in helping people live well with arthritis. Your input will help them tailor the course to meet your needs and preferences. The survey shouldn’t take any longer than 5 minutes. 

Fill in the form here.

The deadline for completion is Tuesday 31st March 2026. For further information, contact Laura Watkins at professionalengagement@arthritis-uk.org.

iO Roadshows 2026 tickets on sale!

The Institute of Osteopathy is excited to share that tickets are now on sale for the iO Roadshows 2026.

It’s a valuable opportunity for osteopaths from across the profession to connect, exchange views, ideas and share best practices.

This new series of full-day CPD events will visit regions across the UK and is open to all osteopaths.

Book a ticket

Consultation on new Chiropractic QS for AxSpA

RCCRCC open consultation on new Chiropractic Quality Standard for Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA)

The Royal College of Chiropractors (RCC) announces the launch of a consultation on a new Chiropractic Quality Standard on Axial Spondyloarthritis, seeking views from all stakeholders including chiropractors and other healthcare professionals, interested organisations, patients and the public.

The RCC invites comments on all aspects of the document, including the extent to which the quality statements and supporting evidence provide achievable markers of high-quality assessment and care for patients living with Axial Spondyloarthritis and the accessibility of the language for the intended audience. …

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