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ARMA Newsletter November 2025
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Beyond the NHS: A vision for neighbourhood health
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by Adrian Bradley, CEO, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA)
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At ARMA, our vision for neighbourhood health goes far beyond the NHS. The NHS is, of course, a vital part of our lives and a cornerstone of care but health is not created in hospitals or clinics alone. It is shaped in the places we live, work and connect, in our homes, schools, workplaces, parks, and communities. Neighbourhood health is about recognising that wellbeing depends as much on the social, economic, and environmental conditions around us as it does on clinical services.
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When we talk about neighbourhood MSK health, we mean care that is rooted in our communities, close to where we live, and connected to the everyday realities of our lives. It’s about early joined up help that prevents problems before they escalate and support that keeps us active, independent, and engaged in our local communities. That means linking GPs, allied health professionals, pharmacists and MSK practitioners (including those in private practice) with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, employers, local government and other statutory bodies. Together, they can create the conditions for us to move more, eat well, manage pain, stay connected, and live lives that matter to us.
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ARMA Launches New Policy Position on MSK Prevention
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Too often, prevention is seen as something that happens in clinics, but true prevention starts long before that. It’s about creating the conditions that make good MSK health possible for everyone, everywhere.
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ARMA’s new policy position paper on MSK prevention calls for a broader, more connected approach. With over 20 million people in the UK affected by MSK conditions prevention must be at the heart of national and local strategies. The benefits are clear, fewer people living in pain, more people staying active and independent, and stronger, more resilient communities.
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Our paper sets out three priorities for action:
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Start early and act across the life course.
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Good MSK health begins in childhood, is supported through adulthood by active environments and safe workplaces, and continues into later life through movement, falls prevention, and rehabilitation.
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Join up systems and services.
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Prevention works best when sectors collaborate. Local MSK networks should bring together healthcare, employers, community organisations, and fitness providers to offer early, holistic support.
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Create health, not just deliver care.
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MSK prevention depends on the social, economic, and environmental factors that shape our daily lives.
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Prevention can’t be achieved by the NHS alone. It’s everyone’s business and local authorities, employers, educators, and communities all have a part to play.
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The State of MSK health
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The report is a collection of the most up-to-date, UK-wide statistics on arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. It is a resource for healthcare professionals, policy makers, public heath leads, researchers, people with these conditions, and anyone interested in MSK health.
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New brand, new name
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Versus Arthritis has now rebranded to Arthritis UK. Arthritis UK believes this name change will help more people who need help find the appropriate information, education and support services. Arthritis UK also believes this will help bring about greater change for people living with arthritis all across the UK as they look to grow their income and impact.
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Left Waiting, Left Behind
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This report draws on the findings of an online survey of 7,928 people living with arthritis in the UK, commissioned by Arthritis UK and carried out by YouGov in 2024. Findings were weighted to ensure they are broadly representative of the 10 million people with arthritis across the UK.
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New SOMM MSc Advancing Practice in MSK Medicine
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The Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine’s (SOMM’s) MSc Musculoskeletal Medicine was developed in 2000 in collaboration with Middlesex University and the programme moved to Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh in 2018. SOMM has greatly valued its collaboration with both universities and the programme continued to run successfully at QMU until August 2024. SOMM is delighted to announce that QMU is now offering a new part time online MSc / PgDip Advancing Practice in Musculoskeletal Medicine.
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ORUK Announces next joint venture gathering
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The next Joint Venture: MSK Innovation Network gathering will take place on Wednesday 28th January 2026 at The Medical Society of London, W1G 9EB, from 2-6pm. The theme of the gathering will be Developing a more dynamic ecosystem for MSK innovation.
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In addition to providing a networking opportunity for MSK innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and others interested in driving innovation and entrepreneurship within MSK health, the event will feature the launch of a new research study into the MSK innovation ecosystem in the UK.…
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AI Shaping the Future of MSK Medicine
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Registration is now open for the the BOA's 2025 Conference - AI in Orthopaedics: Shaping the Future of Musculoskeletal Medicine. It will take place on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd December 2025 at 10 Union Street, London. You can expect live demonstrations, cutting-edge research presentations, expert panels, hands-on workshops and visionary keynote speakers.
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NASS survey for people with axial SpA
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NASS is looking to create resources to support people with axial SpA to be more physically active. To understand the issues our community face and co-produce the solutions, we'd love to hear from your patients. You can invite patients to take part by completing an online survey; if they live in Norfolk, they might join a small group discussion or by chatting one-to-one.
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Join the JIA Champions Forum with CCAA
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Make your lived experience count — join the JIA Champions Forum!
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The CCAA is looking for passionate individuals over the age of 18 who have lived experience of JIA or JIA-uveitis (either as a patient or a parent/carer) to become JIA Champions. As a JIA Champion, you will be part of a national forum of advocates, advisors, and ambassadors.
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NRAS Live: Menopause & RA
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In a recent NRAS survey, 90% of women with RA said that menopause made their RA symptoms worse. RA and menopause share many symptoms. Join NRAS on Wednesday 26th November at 7pm - they will be joined by Dr Vikram Talaulikar, Specialist in Reproductive Medicine at University College London Hospitals. Dr. Talaulikar will be sharing information about menopause, the commonalities between menopause and RA, ways to manage it and much more.
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New NRAS Strategy 2025-2029
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NRAS is excited to present their new organisational strategy for 2025-2029. This plan sets out how they will achieve their priorities over the next three years, how they will address the significant challenges facing the nearly half a million people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in the UK, and how they will protect the future of the organisation.
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Introducing the GIRFT chronic pain workstream
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Wednesday 19th November 2025
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In this webinar the GIRFT clinical leadership team will introduce the scope of the new chronic pain workstream and its objectives and update you of the process for the planned system level peer reviews, looking at the provision and delivery of pain management services across community, primary, secondary and tertiary care.
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GIRFT’s national review of paediatric rheumatology services: learning and next steps
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Tuesday 25th November 2025
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Hosted by Lesley Kay, GIRFT rheumatology joint clinical lead and NHS England’s National Clinical Director for MSK, this webinar will discuss learnings and next steps from the GIRFT national review of paediatric rheumatology services.
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Topics for discussion will include access to care (from hospital to community), the outcomes of care (from sickness to prevention) and their findings on data capture and reporting.
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EULAR Edgar Stene Prize Competition 2026
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EULAR PARE has announced the launch of the EULAR Edgar Stene Prize essay competition 2026 on the topic:
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“Is it all in the genes, or not? How rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) shape and reshape family connections”.
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The competition is open to people aged 18 and over living with rheumatic and MSK diseases (RMD) who wish to write about their personal experiences on the competition topic.
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ARMA Calendar
| 19 Nov 2025 |
GIRFT webinar: Introducing the GIRFT chronic pain workstream |
| 21-22 Nov 2025 |
iO Convention 2025, St Paul’s, London |
| 25 Nov 2025 |
GIRFT webinar: National review of paediatric rheumatology |
| 26 Nov 2025, 7pm |
NRAS Live: Menopause & RA with Dr Vikram Talaulikar |
| 26-27 Nov 2025 |
MSK HQ at Therapy Expo, Birmingham |
| 1-2 Dec 2025 |
AI in Orthopaedics and MSK Conference, London |
| 10 Dec 2025, 6-9pm |
Arthritis UK MSK Bitesize online |
| 14 Dec 2025, 5pm |
EULAR Edgar Stene Prize closes in UK |
| 12 Jan 2026 |
FSEM Diploma in MSK Medicine applications open |
| 28 Jan 2026, 2-6pm |
ORUK Joint Venture: MSK Innovation Network, London |
| 28 May 2026 |
FSEM Diploma in MSK Medicine exam |
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We know that many people value our newsletter, webinars and the fact that we provide a voice for MSK health. We are increasingly asked: given that our membership is made up of organisations, how can an individual support ARMA? For this reason, we have set up a new supporter scheme.
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