MSK & Arthritis News

Sadness and Pride

ARMA CEOby Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

This will be my last blog for this newsletter as I step down from the CEO role. Inevitably I’m reflecting on how things have changed in the over 8 years I’ve been in the role.

The position of MSK in NHS England and NHS Wales is stronger. In England we now have a co-ordinated workstream under GIRFT delivering across the spectrum of MSK – children and adults, primary, secondary and community, all MSK conditions. The resource is nothing like other NHS England programmes such as diabetes or cancer.…

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Versus Arthritis Work Adjustment Plan

Designed to help people with arthritis address work-related barriers and self-manage their condition in work

Versus Arthritis is aware that working with arthritis can be challenging, with a disability employment gap of 20% for those living with arthritis compared to those without arthritis.

Versus Arthritis surveys and research in partnership with CMHW offered an  insight into what could make a difference to work outcomes for people living with the condition.

As a result of these findings, the information on the work area of the Versus Arthritis website has been updated.…

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NRAS Exclusive Webinar on Supported Self-Management

NRAS invites healthcare professionals to exclusive webinar on supported self-management.

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar designed to empower healthcare professionals with tools and insights for supported self-management in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). These webinars will provide an overview of NRAS’s key services and resources, aimed at enhancing patient care and professional practice.

Webinar Details:
7th July 2025, 1pm: Hosted by Ailsa Bosworth, MBE

Register here.

The session will last approximately 45 minutes and offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to learn about NRAS’s free services.…

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NRAS Live – RA, Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Rheumatoid Arthritis doesn’t just affect your joints — it can impact your bones too. Tune in for an insightful conversation with Deborah Nelson, Osteoporosis Specialist Nurse at the Royal Osteoporosis Society, and Peter Foxton, CEO of NRAS on Wednesday, 28th May 2025 at 7pm.

They will be talking about the link between RA & Osteoporosis, risk factors to watch out for, lifestyle tips for stronger bones and how osteoporosis is detected & treated. To find out more information on the Royal Osteoporosis Society, please visit their website.…

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getUBetter proves a vital partner in supporting MSK waiting lists

As NHS services continue to navigate rising demand and resource challenges, getUBetter is proving to be a vital partner in enhancing MSK care and turning passive waiting lists into active ones. Recently deployed across Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (NHFT) as part of the national Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK improvement programme, the getUBetter app is already making an immediate impact.

In collaboration with NHFT’s MSK Physiotherapy team, getUBetter delivered a bespoke, fully branded digital self-management solution within only 4 weeks.…

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Living Well with Arthritis: self-management event

Thursday 19th June 2025, 6.00-7.00pm

Arthritis Action is running its popular introduction to self-management event for those that are new to the concept. The online event will introduce and address topics such as: pain management, healthy eating & weight management, staying active, hobbies and social life, emotional wellbeing and pacing and distraction techniques.

Tickets are free and anyone interested in attending can contact events@arthritisaction.org.uk or send a message via WhatsApp: 07702 813737 or book direct from Eventbrite.

More DEXA scanners roll out across England

The ROSDEXA-scanner expansion to deliver 29,000 extra bone-density scans a year.

Following sustained engagement by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health and our fantastic ARMA supporters, DHSC has confirmed the roll-out of 13 additional DEXA scanners across England. The move is expected to create capacity for around 29,000 extra scans annually, supporting earlier diagnosis and shorter waits for patients.

ORUK launches fund for MSK start-ups

ORUK fundingOrthopaedic Research UK has launched this year’s Ronald Furlong Fund for startups solving unmet needs in MSK health.

Named in honour of the charity’s founder, who combined a successful career as an orthopaedic surgeon with an equally successful career as an entrepreneur, the Fund offers up to £100K to UK-based startups to help accelerate innovative and commercially viable ideas.

Previous recipients of the Ronald Furling Fund include Radii Devices, which deploys s AI and biomechanical modelling to help clinicians design better fitting prosthetic sockets; Novara Therapeutics, which is commercialising the world’s first patented bio-specific solution for the targeted diagnosis and treatment of bone microfractures , and Renovos Biologics, which is pioneering the use of a nanoclay in injectable gel form that can carry biologic drugs capable of augmenting bone tissue regeneration.…

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CCAA’s local area Facebook groups

CCAAThe CCAA has a new local area Facebook group for Herefordshire. This adds to the existing groups, now covering all counties across England and Wales.

Families can find their nearest CCAA local area Facebook group here.

These are online support groups, run and monitored by volunteers at CCAA. They aim to allow families to connect within their local area to share the journey. Health professionals may wish to signpost these groups to their patients.

There are not currently local area groups for Scotland as this area is covered by SNAC (Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children), but the CCAA will always support families in Scotland if they reach out, of course.

Devastating postcode lottery for osteoporosis medication

Bone health APPGThe Royal Osteoporosis Society and the APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health have published a new report exposing how a “postcode lottery” in NHS prescribing leaves over 1 million women without access to vital bone-strengthening treatments. This analysis calls for unified, system-wide policy reform to ensure equitable medication pathways for all.

Read the full report here.