Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance
Influencing policy and care together for best lifelong musculoskeletal health
The Pembrokeshire Lupus Support Group and LUPUS UK are petitioning the Secretary of State for Health at the Welsh Assembly Government to remove the ‘gate keeper principle’ from their healthcare provision.
Patients with lupus and other rare autoimmune illnesses in Wales are being denied the right to access expertise that could really benefit them in the long term.
You can see more about the problem, read the petition and sign it here.
The Welsh Government has published its draft ‘Living with persistent pain in Wales guidance’ for consultation and is seeking views on the draft guidance which will replace the Service Development and Commissioning Directive for Chronic Non-Malignant Pain 2008.
The consultation is on the proposed direction of the draft guidance, which includes: living with pain, supported self-management and health service provision.
More information on the consultation, together with the draft guidance, can be downloaded from the gov.wales website.
The consultation ends 14 September 2018.…
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The LUPUS UK North Wales Lupus Information Day will take place on Saturday, 12 May 2018, in Llandudno.
The afternoon will feature a number of medical experts speaking, including:
“WHAT MEDICATION DO I NEED FOR LUPUS AND WHY?”
Dr Yasmeen Ahmad
Consultant Rheumatologist, Peter Maddison Rheumatology Centre, Llandudno Hospital
“FATIGUE – THE INVISIBLE BURDEN OF LIVING WITH SLE”
Anne Breslin
Rheumatology Specialist Nurse, Peter Maddison Rheumatology Centre, Llandudno Hospital
“CHALLENGES IN THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE SLE (JSLE)”
Dr Eve Smith & Professor Christian Hedrich
NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer, University of Liverpool, Paediatric Trainee Alder Hey Children’s Hospital & Paediatric Rheumatologist Professor of Child Health at University of Liverpool
“MINDFULNESS FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH LONG TERM HEALTH CHALLENGES?…
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Together for Mental Health in North Wales is an all-ages plan for mental health services in North
Wales covering the period up to 2021.
It has been put together by NHS Wales with partner organisations and with people who have lived experience of mental health issues. The project is supported by Caniad, an organisation created to involve people with lived experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of our mental health services.
The strategy outlines NHS Wales’s ambition to offer a comprehensive range of services that:
Open the Together for Mental Health in North Wales strategy update document [PDF]
Law yn Llaw at Iechyd Meddwl yng Ngogledd Cymru – Chwefror 2018 [PDF]
On 28 November 2017, the UK Gout Society joined forces with Welsh Assembly Members, doctors and other charities to help raise awareness of gout in Wales.
Speaking at the Welsh Assembly, Rhun ap Iorwerth AM, the Plaid Cymru Health Spokesperson who hosted the event, said: “The impact of musculoskeletal conditions in Wales is huge and we have a big job to limit that impact. Working together to raise awareness of gout must play a part. We know that gout is often seriously undertreated and greatly misunderstood.”…
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The North Wales ARMA Network has set advance details of its meetings for next year.
A map and directions are provided for meetings to be held on :-
• Tuesday 23th January 16:30 – 18:30 hours
• Tuesday 17th April 16:30 – 18:30 hours
• Tuesday 3th July 16:30 – 18:30 hours
• Tuesday 16th October 16:30 – 18:30 hours
Download full details in pdf format.
AMs in the National Assembly for Wales voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion calling for a full multidisciplinary paediatric rheumatology service to be developed in Wales. Despite Cabinet Members abstaining, 27 AMs voted to support the motion, with nine abstentions and none against. There is now significant pressure on the government to take action.
Arthritis Care Wales, the British Society for Rheumatology and the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society have been campaigning to ensure children with arthritis in Wales have access to vital services.…
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Upcoming North Wales support group meetings for people with arthritis and chronic pain.
Dates:
7th August 2017
4th September 2017
2nd October 2017
6th November 2017
4th December 2017
Venue:
Holywell Community Hospital, North Wales.
The meeting room is behind the cafe and opposite the reception area.
Open full-size and save the flyer for more details, or see the North Wales Arthritis & Chronic Pain Support Group Facebook page.
Wales is the only home nation without a full multidisciplinary paediatric rheumatology service, so many children and families in Wales travel long distances to access vital services. Arthritis Care believes children with arthritis in Wales deserve better.
That is why Arthritis Care Wales, together with the British Society for Rheumatology and the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, held a drop-in event in Cardiff on the 28 June 2017 to talk to Assembly Members about the impact of childhood arthritis and the need for better services.…
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After the success of our first three MSK pathway events I’m pleased that planning for the next three has begun. The North West event will be in Merseyside on May 16th and is shaping up to be every bit as inspiring as the others. Two events are being planned for the South region, with the first in Exeter in July. More details should be available in our next newsletter.
I have been reading the pledge forms completed by people at the first three events and they show the commitment of people to create change in services.…
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