Last updated 2/4/20 17:50
ARMA is working to support our members to share information and respond effectively to the coronavirus outbreak. Patient organisations are working to ensure people have the advice they need related to their condition or medication. Our professional members are working to ensure healthcare professionals have access to the information they need about the virus and also how to continue to provide healthcare support in the current situation.
ARMA is signposting to the most relevant information we can find and will update this page as new information becomes available. It includes information for for professionals, patients, parents and guidance for Wales and Scotland.
General advice about social distancing including groups who may be more at risk:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people
Information for professionals
NHSE Speciality guides including:
Medicine:
- Management of rheumatology patients which includes more information about levels of risk for different groups
Surgery:
- Management of trauma and orthopaedic patients
- Management of patients requiring spinal surgery
- perioperative care of people with fragility fractures
Musculoskeletal
- Urgent and Emergency Musculoskeletal Conditions Requiring Onward Referral – to help primary or community care practitioners recognise serious pathology which requires emergency or urgent referral to secondary care in patients who present with new or worsening musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms.
- Management of patients with musculoskeletal and rheumatic conditions on corticosteroids
Can all be found here:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/secondary-care/other-resources/specialty-guides/
Identifying high risk patients who should be shielding – There is information on the BSR website about how this will be done in relation to rheumatology including a template of the letter patients will receive.
Information in the NHS website for patients about shielding.
Prioritisation within community services guidance – which services should stop, continue or change their provision, including podiatry, rehab, therapy and MSK services. Covers both children and young people services and adult and older people services. Includes a link to the new hospital discharge service requirements to free up beds and will be a priority for some of the services listed above.
Guidance from the CSP on use of therapeutic corticosteroid injections during the COVID-19 pandemic
https://www.csp.org.uk/news/coronavirus/clinical-practice-faqs
NHS letter: NEXT STEPS ON NHS RESPONSE TO COVID-19 – includes reference to postpone all non-urgent elective operations (1a, p2) and measures around GP, diagnostic or outpatient appointments (4b, p5)
Guidance from the CSP on implementing remote consultations
https://www.csp.org.uk/publications/covid-19-guide-rapid-implementation-remote-consultations
Information about NICE rapid guidelines on the active management of COVID-19 infection which will include rheumatology. NICE are also reviewing guidance on ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in relation to impact on covid-19 illness.
https://www.nice.org.uk/covid-19
Guidance on infection prevention and control for COVID-19
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control
Information for patients
A risk calculator for rheumatology patients to assess their risk and whether you should be isolating or shielding.
https://www.versusarthritis.org/rheumatology-patients-and-covid-19-learn-more-about-the-risk-levels/
Many patient organisations have helplines and web-based information.
Fibromyalgia UK: http://www.fmauk.org/coronavirus
Hypermobility Syndromes Association: https://www.hypermobility.org/news/covid19-resources
Lupus UK: https://www.lupusuk.org.uk/coronavirus/
National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS): https://nass.co.uk/managing-my-as/covid19-coronavirus/
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS): https://www.nras.org.uk/coronavirus (info page);
and Here For You, a new service that allows you to arrange a callback with someone with RA who understands you: https://www.nras.org.uk/here-for-you
Psoriasis Association: https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/psoriasis-and-treatments/covid-19-information
Royal Osteoporosis Society: https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/coronavirus-and-osteoporosis
Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (SRUK): https://www.sruk.co.uk/about-us/news/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-advice-our-community/
Versus Arthritis: https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2020/march/coronavirus-covid-19-what-is-it-and-where-to-go-for-information/
Information for patients and parents of children and young people
From SPARN (Scottish Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology Network)
https://www.sparn.scot.nhs.uk/
CCCA Kids with Arthritis incorporating JIA Matters facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/CCAAorguk/
Information for Wales
Guidance for professionals (nothing MSK specific)
https://gov.wales/health-professionals-coronavirus
Shielding advice
https://gov.wales/get-coronavirus-support-extremely-vulnerable-person – contact your local authority
https://www.wlga.wales/welsh-local-authority-links
Information for Scotland
Guidance for healthcare professionals
https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/
Shielding advice