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Waiting for what?
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We all know that people are waiting too long for a variety of MSK treatment in the NHS. We all know that the NHS is working hard to tackle waiting times with some success. However, the patient’s experience of waiting and the NHS understanding can be very different things. If the NHS is to deal with waiting lists well, then I would argue it needs to understand what waiting means to patients.
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Engaging with NASS, my national RMD organisation - how it enriched and changed the quality of my life
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Guest blog from EULAR Edgar Stene Prize essay competition entrant, Geoff Lindsay.
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I’ve lived with axial Spa for 50 years.
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November 1973. I’m 24. Every time I put on my tight bell-bottom Levi jeans I got bad pain in my left hip. Am I going crazy? How can wearing jeans give me a pain so bad I can hardly walk? Walking up stairs is very painful. Stepping up a kerb is a task I would limp another twenty metres to avoid.
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I was 36 years undiagnosed until 2009.
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Act Now Virtual launch event
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Join us for a virtual launch event to celebrate the ARMA report Act Now: MSK Health inequalities and deprivation.
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- Hear about the findings of the report and what they mean for health services and healthcare professionals.
- How does deprivation relate to MSK health?
- What are the 5 steps to addressing health inequalities and what do they look like in practice?
- What are the particular issues for children and young people?
- What can you do to create change if you act now?
Join the discussion with our panel:
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- Anthony Gilbert, Postdoctoral Clinical Research Physiotherapist, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
- Shabir Aziz, Lived Experience Partner
- Lesley Kay, National Clinical Director for MSK, NHS England
- Jacqui Clinch, Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist
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Act Now Report on MSK Health Inequalities and Deprivation
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In March, ARMA published the Act Now report of the Inquiry on Musculoskeletal Health Inequalities and Deprivation.
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The report highlights the impact of social and economic determinants of health on those living with MSK conditions. People with MSK conditions in more deprived areas develop conditions earlier, have more complex cases, yet face far greater challenges in managing their MSK conditions and accessing quality MSK services.
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Act Now aims to address the drivers of poor musculoskeletal health acting on people living in deprivation and crucially it brings a focus to the part health services across the UK can play to address inequalities.
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The report provides practical advice and signposting for health systems, MSK services and practitioners in a position to shift the dial in the right direction and implement innovative strategies to overcome barriers to healthcare access and tackle unequal health outcomes in MSK health. It also spotlights organisations already implementing innovative ways to engage with under-served groups.
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Key recommendations from the report include:
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- Getting closer to and knowing your community better – solutions such as moving services into community spaces make them more accessible to under-served groups from deprived areas.
- Developing shared ownership of services through engagement and co-production.
- Using data to identify, tackle and monitor barriers to access and unequal health outcomes.
- Targeting intensive and tailored supported self-management where need is greatest.
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You can read the full report here.
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Please contact us at cmonaghan@arma.uk.net if you have any questions about the report or would like resources to help share the report with your own audiences.
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Psoriasis: What you need to know Conference 2024
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Psoriasis: What you need to know Conference 2024 is taking place on 22nd June 2024 in Manchester. The conference serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and discussion of the latest advancements in psoriasis research, treatment, and management. Listen to insightful talks from researchers, healthcare professionals, and individuals affected by psoriasis.
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New venue for SOMM Foundation in MSK Medicine
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The Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine (SOMM) has added a new host to its venue portfolio – Perth Royal Infirmary. The hospital will host the SOMM Foundation in Musculoskeletal Medicine Module, Unit 1 in October/November 2024. This 4-day unit covers the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow and wrist/hand. The unit is highly practical and combines this with theory lectures, clinical reasoning, and a review of functional anatomy.
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The Arthritis Revolution in Cheltenham
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Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust (GAT) is part of the “Arthritis Revolution” in Cheltenham.
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Welcome to the “Arthritis Revolution” that is happening in patient care at Cheltenham General Hospital. The revolutionary approach is aimed at getting between 800 and 1,000 patients a year home much quicker after hip or knee replacement surgery.
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NASS needs to hear from you
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NASS is excited to launch a call for evidence as part of their efforts to establish a Gold Standard in Treatment and Care for Axial Spondyloarthritis as part of the Aspiring to Excellence programme.
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NASS is looking for people with lived experience of axial SpA, and healthcare professionals to share with us their real-life examples of good treatment and care.
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Creating your AS flare toolkit
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Most people with axial SpA tend to have times of flare and times when their symptoms are more manageable or settled. A flare can include an increase in pain and joint stiffness, either local or generally. Find tools to help you to feel more in control and prepare for axial SpA flares with the NASS axial SpA online peer support meeting on 4 June 2024 at 6pm.
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NASS at the EULAR Congress
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The National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) will be at EULAR Congress to present on their supported self-management for people living with axial SpA. Programme Manager Zoë Clark will present in the session ‘Exploring self-management: definitions and life’ on Saturday, 15 June 2024 at 11.45am. If you’re attending EULAR and would like to meet to discuss the NASS Supported Self-management Programme, please get in touch with Zoë at zoe@nass.co.uk.
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Free online peer support
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The National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) runs free online monthly meetups, where people with axial SpA can meet others with the same condition to share advice and get support. The topics vary each month and focus on practical ways to support self-management, alongside medical care. The meetups are part of the ‘Your SpAce’ programme and healthcare professionals can order free promotional materials to easily signpost their patients.
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Bridging the Gap report
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We Are Undefeatable has launched the report from Big Talk, a public consultation which went live last year. Read more about their report "Bridging the gap: understanding how to support people with long term health conditions to become more physically active".
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Recent publications on health inequalities
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There have been a number of publications and toolkits on health inequalities published in recent weeks.
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These are not MSK-specific but will include useful information, data and resources for those working in MSK. Illustrating the relationship between poverty and NHS services is a long read from the Kings Fund.
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New Oliver Bird Funding for MSK
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£6 million of research funding to improve the lives of people living with musculoskeletal conditions
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The Nuffield Foundation, in partnership with Versus Arthritis, has announced £6 million for new research funding to improve the well-being of people living with musculoskeletal conditions in the UK, with a focus outside clinical settings.
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Welsh Government Mental Health Inquiry
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The Welsh Government has opened a public consultation on its draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The consultation will close on 11 June 2024.
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You can find full details of the consultation via this link to the www.gov.wales website.
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Senedd Health Committee Obesity Inquiry
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The Senedd Health Committee is holding an enquiry into the ‘prevention of ill health – obesity.’ The call for evidence runs until 7 June 2024.
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You can find further details on the inquiry and submit evidence to the Committee by following this link.
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ARMA Calendar
| 23 May 2024 |
Applications close for RCSEd Orthopaedics Research Fellowship |
| 23 May 2024, 6-9pm |
Versus Arthritis MSK Bitesize webinar |
| 24 May 2024 |
NRAS #WearPurpleForJIA |
| 3 June 2024, 1-2pm |
Act Now Virtual Launch event |
| 4 June 2024, 6pm |
NASS axial SpA online peer support meeting - creating your flare toolkit |
| 6 June 2024 |
FSEM Diploma in Team care exam |
| 7 June 2024 |
Welsh inquiry into 'Prevention of ill health: obesity' closes |
| 11 June 2024 |
Welsh Government Mental Health Inquiry closes |
| 12-15 June 2024 |
EULAR Congress, Vienna, Austria |
| 22 June 2024 |
Psoriasis: What you need to know Conference 2024, Manchester |
| 28-30 June 2024 |
CCAA Family Residential Support Weekend, Dorset |
| 3 July 2024, 6pm |
NASS axial SpA online peer support meeting - friendships and family life |
| 3 July 2024, 9am-5pm |
Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care course, Glasgow |
| 15-21 July 2024 |
NRAS JIA Awareness Week |
| 26 July 2024, 5pm |
Call for evidence closes for NASS Gold Standard |
| 16 August 2024 |
Closing date to submit evidence for Aspiring to Excellence programme |
| 16 Sept 2024 |
Deadline for outline Oliver Bird Funding applications |
| 16-22 Sept 2024 |
NRAS RA Awareness Week |
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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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