Category: Patients

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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Online axial SpA introductory session

Do you support people in England newly diagnosed with axial SpA (including AS)?

Introduction to axial SpA is an online session for people recently diagnosed with axial SpA in England.

Help your patients get to grips with their condition by directing them to a free online session on 26 March 2026, designed by NASS specifically for people in the first three years post-diagnosis. As part of booking, attendees will receive bespoke support from the NASS Helpline team.

Find out more here. …

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New RA & Menopause booklet

Women's DayOn International Women’s Day March 8th 2026, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) launched a new Rheumatoid Arthritis & Menopause booklet, which will be available to download or order in print free of charge. The resource addresses a long‑standing gap in support for women managing both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the menopause—two conditions that can overlap in complex and often confusing ways.

The booklet follows a 2024 NRAS study exploring women’s experiences of RA during menopause. The findings revealed a striking lack of clinical discussion: 93% of respondents said no healthcare professional had ever raised the topic with them.…

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NRAS cardiovascular risk modules

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) has introduced three new cardiovascular risk management modules to its SMILE‑RA e‑learning programme this February.

People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)—around 1.5 times that of the general population—yet screening and management of these risks remain inconsistent across the UK.

Although guidelines such as NICE NG100 highlight the importance of regular cardiovascular checks for people with RA, many individuals still have undiagnosed or poorly managed risk factors. International audits show this is a widespread issue, regardless of healthcare system, and contributes to the persistently elevated CVD risk seen in RA.…

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NRAS JoinTogether group meeting

NRAS groupsFor many people, attending a local group in person may not be possible. But with the NRAS JoinTogether digital groups, you can connect online with others who have similar interests and lifestyles. All groups are run by volunteers.

Menopause with IA

A supportive space for women navigating Menopause and Inflammatory Arthritis: this group offers a welcoming, safe space for women to connect, share, and feel heard throughout every stage of menopause—from perimenopause to post-menopause—while also managing life with Inflammatory Arthritis. The meetings will provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss practical tips for symptom management, as well as hear expert advice from guest speakers who understand the unique challenges of this journey.…

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SMILE-RA – Exercise just got easier

NRAS understands that for people living with rheumatoid arthritis, physical activity is not a short‑term resolution but an important, sustained commitment that supports health throughout the year. SMILE-RA is a free, user friendly program designed to support people living with RA self-manage their condition.

To help individuals incorporate exercise more effectively into daily life, NRAS has refined the original SMILE‑RA Exercise module into two concise components: The Science Explained, which outlines the evidence behind the benefits of regular exercise for heart health, joint function, energy, mood, and overall wellbeing; and Let’s Move, which provides practical, achievable guidance for integrating physical activity into everyday routines in a sustainable and adaptable way.…

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APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health

All-Party Parliamentary Group publishes report on osteoporosis

The APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health has published Seen, Heard, Supported: Transforming Osteoporosis Care. Drawing on survey data from over 3,300 patients, the report found more than half of people with osteoporosis had no NHS contact about their condition in the past year. It highlights fragmented pathways, weak long-term condition management, and stark inequalities, and calls for national audit of the entire patient pathway, comprehensive local pathways, and bone health questions to be added to the NHS Health Check.…

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Psoriasis Awareness Week 2025

Psoriasis Awareness Week 2025Psoriasis Awareness Week is fast approaching with this year’s event running from Wednesday 29th October to Tuesday 4th November 2025 with the theme ‘Comorbidities of Psoriasis’.

Comorbidities are the presence of one or more additional diseases or disorders that occur in someone, alongside already living with psoriasis.

This includes conditions such as Psoriatic Arthritis, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and the mental health impact that living with psoriasis may have including low self-esteem, feelings of isolation and loneliness and anxiety and depression.…

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