MSK & Arthritis News

UK Gout Society at the Welsh Assembly

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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Portsmouth ARMA spring newsletter and Easter events

The spring edition of the Portsmouth Hospitals’ Department of Rheumatology newsletter is out.

It contains dates and details of a number of upcoming events, groups and meetings, including:

  • Funky Knit Day, a knitting event to raise awareness of Raynauds, 07 Feb 2018 – see the poster
  • Portsmouth Cream Tea & Light Music event, 4 March 2018 – see the poster
  • Portsmouth Easter Tea Dance, 24 March 2018 – see the poster

For more, open and save the spring newsletter (in PDF) here.

BASEM Foundation Skills Course June 2018

Online booking is currently open for this year’s BASEM Foundation Skills Course on 10-13 June 2018 at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire. This three-and-a-half day residential course is aimed at providing a thorough grounding in the areas that make up Sports Medicine.

Hands-on and practical, it will cover anatomy, pathologies and practical examinations of the foot, ankle, knee, shoulder and spine; exercise physiology; nutrition in sport; sport and doping; practical rehab and event medicine.

Further information and an online booking facility are available on the BASEM web site www.basem.co.uk

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The Safe Care Steering Group survey

We all expect our healthcare to be safe, but mistakes can happen that may put patients at unnecessary risk.

This is the focus of the Safe Care Steering Group overseeing a James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership about safe care for adults with complex health needs, who have more than one condition or illness, or who need care from different teams and/or some care to be provided in their home.

On behalf of the Allied Health Professions Federation, Dr Jo Watson, RCOT’s Assistant Director – Education and Research, is part of this Steering Group.…

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Game of Life

The timely, effective and responsive assessment and management of patients using the Patient Advice and Information Lines (PAIL) leads to improved quality of care and patient experience.

Whilst a number of the Patient Advice and Information Line calls are related to clinical concerns, patients, family and carers often talk about other life events that may impact on their treatment and management plan. Clinical Nurse Specialists and Members of the Rheumatology Multidisciplinary team need to be responsive with a wealth of knowledge and experience; they must also be imaginative with a bit of Health Service/ Community Care “common sense” to support these patients through these life events.…

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RCN Rheumatology18 is next week

The Royal College of Nursing is putting the final preparations in place for the RCN Rheumatology Nursing workshop 2018.

12 Jan 2018
from 11:00 – 15:00

This event will enable specialist nurses to continue to deliver excellent care, follow best practice and inspire colleagues despite continued NHS barriers and difficulties.

The workshop is based on the results of a forum survey which asked you to identify issues relating to the management of rheumatological disease, interventions, treatment and support. The aim is to address these issues as well as develop the unmet need for clinical leadership skills and personal and professional resilience.…

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Pharmacists can play a key role in an integrated patient care team

Guest blog by Robbie Turner, Director of England, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

With people living longer lives, the number living with multiple long-term conditions is rising, leading to billions of pounds in additional health and social care costs. This will be a scenario very familiar to the members of ARMA.

Treatment and support for the growing number of people with long term conditions such as arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions is placing significant demands on the NHS and other public services. Around £15 billion was spent on medicines in 2015/16, which are the most common solution chosen to help manage symptoms for people with long term conditions. …

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BASEM Spring Conference 2018

Get Dynamic: Hormones, Health and Human Performance

What are the key Endocrine and Metabolic considerations for elite athletes to reluctant exercisers?

Discussion, led by experienced clinicians and researchers will cover:

  • Key role of Sports Endocrinology in health and performance
  • Effects of exercise modalities on body composition and bone health
  • Machine learning in interpreting biochemical & metabolic patterns
  • Endocrine & metabolic markers in assessing health & training status
  • Gut metabolism in supporting health and performance
  • Exercise as crucial lifestyle factor in pre-existing metabolic dysfunction

22 March 2018
The Keepmoat Stadium
Doncaster

See more details, including the programme and list of speakers at:
http://www.basem.co.uk/education/basem-spring-conference-2018/

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BASEM Foundation Skills Course 2018

A three and a half day residential course aimed at providing a thorough grounding in areas that make up Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM).

10 – 13 June 2018
Venue: Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire

The course will cover aspects of both sports medicine and science in health, disease and following acute and chronic injury.
The course will be as practical/hands on as possible and lectures will include: Anatomy, pathologies and practical examinations of the foot, ankle, knee, shoulder & spine:

  • Exercise physiology
  • Nutrition in sport
  • Sport and doping
  • Practical rehab
  • Event Medicine

For the draft programme, course fees and registration, please visit this link on the BASEM website.

Happy 2018?

Happy New Year to all our supporters.

Although it is hard to feel that it will be happy for the NHS as winter crisis stories filled the media. Everyone in Government including the Prime Minister was forced to apologise as routine operations were postponed to help cope with the pressure of emergencies. Ministers appeared in the media to argue that the moves were part of a planned response and therefore there was no “crisis”. Listening to the coverage I took a small crumb of comfort: again and again, when giving an example of the negative impact of delays, hip and knee operations were mentioned.…

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