Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance
Influencing policy and care together for best lifelong musculoskeletal health
DEXA-scanner expansion to deliver 29,000 extra bone-density scans a year.
Following sustained engagement by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health and our fantastic ARMA supporters, DHSC has confirmed the roll-out of 13 additional DEXA scanners across England. The move is expected to create capacity for around 29,000 extra scans annually, supporting earlier diagnosis and shorter waits for patients.
Orthopaedic Research UK has launched this year’s Ronald Furlong Fund for startups solving unmet needs in MSK health.
Named in honour of the charity’s founder, who combined a successful career as an orthopaedic surgeon with an equally successful career as an entrepreneur, the Fund offers up to £100K to UK-based startups to help accelerate innovative and commercially viable ideas.
Previous recipients of the Ronald Furling Fund include Radii Devices, which deploys s AI and biomechanical modelling to help clinicians design better fitting prosthetic sockets; Novara Therapeutics, which is commercialising the world’s first patented bio-specific solution for the targeted diagnosis and treatment of bone microfractures , and Renovos Biologics, which is pioneering the use of a nanoclay in injectable gel form that can carry biologic drugs capable of augmenting bone tissue regeneration.…
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The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Adrian Bradley as its new Chief Executive, starting mid-June.
Adrian joins after eight and a half years as Head of Healthier Communities at the English Football League (EFL) Trust – the national charity that represents, advises and supports a network of seventy-two charities linked to professional football clubs across England and Wales. He has extensive knowledge and experience of tackling health inequalities in some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities.…
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The links between poor musculoskeletal (MSK) health and obesity are well documented. 70% of people experiencing poor MSK health are overweight or obese, and obesity is an important and potentially modifiable risk factor in the onset and progression of MSK conditions. This is why we are Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) is delighted to be joining the Obesity Health Alliance; a coalition of over 60 organisations working together to reduce obesity by influencing Government policy.
The goal of the Obesity Health Alliance is to prevent obesity-related ill-health by supporting evidence-based population level policies to help address the wider environmental factors that lead to excess bodyweight.…
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NRAS invites healthcare professionals to exclusive webinars on supported self-management.
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is pleased to announce two upcoming webinars designed to empower healthcare professionals with tools and insights for supported self-management in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). These webinars will provide an overview of NRAS’s key services and resources, aimed at enhancing patient care and professional practice.
Webinar Details:
Each session will last approximately 45 minutes and offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to learn about NRAS’s free services.…
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In Autumn 2024, NRAS conducted a Survey of people with Inflammatory Arthritis (IA) across Wales, collecting data about the patient experience of accessing rheumatology services in 2024.
NRAS launched the report on 22nd April 2025 when Peter Foxton, CEO of NRAS, hosted a live webinar discussing the results together with a discussion of how we can improve the patient experience for people living with Inflammatory Arthritis in Wales. He was joined by Ailsa Bosworth, National Patient Champion, Sadé Asker, Senior Policy Officer and Dr Ceril Rhys-Dillon, Consultant Rheumatologist and Clinical Lead for the Rheumatology Clinical Implementation Network in Wales.…
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by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA
We have just passed the one year anniversary of the publication of our Act Now report on MSK health inequalities. A good time to evaluate the success of the project. It’s clear that we have made an impact. That people are acting on the key messages and recommendations. It is also clear just how far we still have to go.
When we started the project we were clear that this was not about producing a report.…
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New Fracture Liaison Services programme launching in 2025
The ROS is increasing resources for the Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) rollout in 2025. The Society will play an ambitious, pro-active role in the rollout of FLS in England. This reflects the critical importance of these secondary prevention services in closing the care gap. The ROS wants to achieve this change while continuing to campaign for 100% coverage of FLS across all four UK nations.
The FLS programme will make the most meaningful difference for patients and for healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in the field.…
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JIA Wedi’i Egluro, bellach ar gael yn Gymraegkar!
NRAS has now made available their JIA Explained booklet as a free download in Welsh – thanks to the support from the Millenium Stadium Trust and the translation work by The Big Word. This newly translated resource is part of a wider project to make NRAS publications as inclusive and accessible as possible. As a national charity, being inclusive of all UK nations is an important part of this work. If you are a young person in Wales living with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or their parent, understanding the condition can feel overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be.…
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Are you working to tackle inequalities in musculoskeletal health? Do you want to connect with others who are facing the same challenges and are finding solutions?
Then ARMA’s community of practice is for you.
The next meeting will be 5 August 2025, 12.30 – 1.30pm
How it works:
Join us for monthly interactive Zoom sessions, where we bring together everyone committed to reducing MSK health inequalities. Each session includes:
✅ Presentations on key issues and innovative approaches
✅ Lively discussions in small groups to share experiences and strategies
✅ Peer support from others facing similar challenges
Who Should Join?…
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