MSK & Arthritis News

Lessons from traditional Chinese acupuncture – Adding value to life

Guest Blog by Paul Hitchcock, Chief Executive, The British Acupuncture Council

I recently spoke at an NHS England event for International Day for Older People, my talk being titled “Lessons from traditional Chinese acupuncture – adding value to life”. We know we have a demographic challenge here in the UK and we talk about an ageing population that will see an increase of around one million people over the age of sixty five in the next three years. In China the number is closer to three hundred million, although the approach there is not to use age as the differentiator but the person’s overall health and wellbeing – an approach that is also now starting to be applied here in the UK.…

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NICE Persistent Pain Guidelines committee

NICE is looking for members to join the persistent pain guideline committee.

They are looking for:

  • two general practitioners
  • a pain specialist
  • a physician with interest in pain
  • a liaison psychiatrist
  • a pharmacist
  • an allied health professional
  • a commissioner
  • a pain psychologist
  • a nurse specialist or practitioner
  • a public health professional.

They are also looking for co-opted expert witnesses with the following background or experience:

  • an addiction specialist
  • a social worker.

Find full details here on the NICE website.
NICE are also recruiting for lay members to join the committee: www.nice.org.uk/lay-member-persistent-pain-guideline-committee…

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Contribute to EULAR 2018 – Abstract submission now open

The Annual European Congress of Rheumatology will take place in Amsterdam, 13-16 June 2018.

Building on a record of 4,850 abstracts submitted in 2017, EULAR 2018 is expected to achieve more success than ever before. Submit your abstract and join EULAR in its endeavour to improve the availability of information and the ability to diagnose and treat all areas of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).

Submit your abstract

Abstract submission deadline: 31 January 2018 23:59 CET

 

Edgar Stene Prize 2018 – Send your entries, don’t miss out!

Deadline is Friday 21st December. Please submit your completed essays entry to projects@arma.uk.net.

The Edgar Stene Prize 2018 competition is open to people 18 years and over who are living with a Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal (RMD) disease. The 2018 prize will be awarded to the winning essay on the topic:

“My personal champion – supporting my everyday life with a rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD)”

For many people with RMDs it can be a long journey to receive the right diagnosis and appropriate treatment for their condition.…

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Biologics guidance document for Rheumatology Practitioners

The RCN Rheumatology Forum would like to report that in September 2017 the 4th edition of the RCN Biologics guidance document for Rheumatology Practitioners went live: “Assessing, managing and monitoring Biologic therapies for Inflammatory Arthritis“

It is available online now as a downloadable PDF via our link: my.rcn.org.uk/RCNguidance.

Strategy Day

On the 17th Nov 2017 the RCN Rheumatology Forum are planning to meet for a (self-funded) Strategy Day where future projects and final details of the forthcoming RCN Rheumatology Nursing Workshop will be discussed.…

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Work Matters launched

On Wednesday 11th October, NRAS launched its new report, Work Matters, following a survey of over 1,500 people with rheumatoid arthritis.

The launch took place in Parliament and was attended by the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work- Penny Mordaunt MP, who spoke about the importance of work as a health outcome. The findings from this report will form much of NRAS’ campaigning going forward.

You can read the report here and can also order a hardcopy from this link.…

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Shaping the RA service in Scotland

In two new NRAS videos, our Scottish Ambassadors and Dr Neil McKay from the Scottish Society for Rheumatology, explain how RA patients living in Scotland can help shape improvements to their rheumatology services.

Patients who have had RA for a year or more, and live in Scotland, can fill out the questionnaires that will be available in your clinic. Information gathered will be analysed and used to identify areas of good practice that can be shared across the country.

Both videos can be viewed here.

New BSR mentoring scheme is live!

The BSR is delighted to have launched a mentoring scheme exclusively for all our members, whether you are a newly qualified or experienced professional. The mentoring scheme is a flexible and open platform that matches developing professionals to trusted mentors with relevant skills and knowledge. This brand new service is open exclusively for members – and completely free!

Find out more to sign up as a mentor or mentee: www.rheumatology.org.uk/Professional-Development/Mentoring

2018 Annual Conference

Register interest to attend our flagship event, the 2018 Annual Conference, by emailing the events team – events@rhuematology.org.uk…

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Sport and Exercise Medicine delivers the latest on MSK Health, Physical Activity and Lifestyle

The FSEM (UK) and BASEM joint annual conference Sport and Exercise – Bringing us all Together brought a focus, this year, on MSK Health, Physical Activity and Lifestyle. Delivered in the historical town of Bath 12th and 13th October, the conference was attended by over 400 health professionals with guest sessions from the University of Bath and the ARUK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis.

Physical Activity in the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease was delivered with a scientific approach to behaviour change and how technology can help support more people to become active, this was a key focus for the University of Bath.…

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