MSK & Arthritis News

Belimumab (Benlysta) approved for restricted use in NHS Scotland

On Monday 8th May 2017 the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) published new advice accepting the restricted use of belimumab (Benlysta) by NHS Scotland for lupus patients. This advice was published following a re-submission with evidence supplied by GlaxoSmithKline (the producers of Benlysta) and LUPUS UK on behalf of patients.

 

Belimumab is the first drug approved to treat lupus in more than 50 years and is the first drug developed specifically for lupus since the disease was discovered. It is approved for adults with active, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) who are receiving other lupus medicines.…

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Lupus Knows No Boundaries e-Report published by World Lupus Federation

On World Lupus Day (May 10th) the “Lupus Knows No Boundaries e-Report,” which has been co-created by the World Lupus Federation and Glaxosmithkline (GSK), was published.

The report brings together first-hand experiences of people with lupus, their advocates and those who treat them. It tells the real story of lupus, highlighting the ongoing physical and emotional needs of those who are affected by this incurable disease.

The report can be downloaded from the LUPUS UK website at  www.lupusuk.org.uk/world-lupus-day-report/.…

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FSEM (UK) Releases MSK Key Messages

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) UK has published a set of key messages to guide associated organisations and colleges through the specialty of Sport and Exercise Medicine’s work and relevance to MSK Medicine.

The key points cover the training and skills that SEM physicians have in MSK Medicine; the significance and relevance of this to the NHS; and links to the examples of hospital and community-based SEM-led MSK clinics, which deliver both clinical efficiencies and cost savings.

Read the FSEM’s key messages on MSK Medicine here, on their website.…

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BASEM/FSEM: dates of coming events

BASEM Revision Course for the FSEM Membership Exam: Part 1
12th August 2017
BASEM Office, Auckley, Doncaster.

www.basem.co.uk/education/basem-diploma-revision-course-part-one/

 

4th Annual BASEM/FSEM Sport and Exercise Medicine Conference
Sport & Exercise – Bringing us all together
12th – 13th October 2017

The 4th BASEM/FSEM Annual Sport and Exercise Medicine Conference in conjunction with the University of Bath and Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis.

Book online:
www.basem.co.uk/education/basemfsem-annual-conference-2017/

#AllTogether

 

BASEM Open Forum and Annual General Meeting
12th October 2017
4.30 pm to 5.30 pm
The Assembly Rooms, Bath, BA1 2QH

New Self-Management Event in Leicester

Arthritis Action in collaboration with CLASH – Community Leicester Arthritis Self-Help group – will be holding a two-day Self-Management Event in Leicester on :-

Wednesday 28th June 2017 at 2.00 pm – 4.30 pm
and
Thursday 29th June 2017 at 10.30am – 1.00 pm

We aim to help our attendees take control of the symptoms of their arthritis, with the event covering topics such as:
  • The impact of physical therapies
  • How you can best manage your pain
  • The benefits of exercise and a healthy diet
  • Ways to work in partnership with healthcare professionals

This SME Leicester event will be free of charge and refreshments will be provided, and is open to all.…

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PMRGCAuk week: 19th to 25th June 2017

Polymyalgia Rheumatica & Giant Cell Arteritis UK are excited to announce something brand new for 2017 – PMRGCAuk week!

Between 19th and 25th June, our members and their friends and family across the country will be fundraising to help us reach even more people with PMR and GCA. For example, Elizabeth Mitchell is undertaking a 10-mile sponsored walk in the New Forest on 25th June; nifty knitters in Bradford, Ilkle and Leeds are creating flower brooches to sell; and members of the Orpington Meet Up have organised a coffee morning.…

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Consensus sought on exercise and osteoporosis

The National Osteoporosis Society is embarking on a new project designed to support people with osteoporosis and fragility fractures to exercise safely. The charity is calling on health professionals and people with the condition to submit any questions they have about exercise and osteoporosis as they scope a Consensus Statement.

The new statement will be used to help standardise the information people living with osteoporosis receive about the best exercises and physical activity to safely strengthen bones. It will also help the National Osteoporosis Society to produce new publications and web based resources on exercise for people with the condition to use, based on the best evidence and expertise.…

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Video ‘What is AS’ to increase awareness and understanding

World AS Day was on Saturday 6 May. Every year, our aim on the day is to increase awareness and understanding of AS.

We produced a short video called ‘What is AS’ explaining the condition and how it affects people and asked people to share it on social media. We were delighted to have a reach of more than 55,000 on Facebook alone. This is the first in a series of videos.

Click here to open https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfoivx6Sgtc

 

We also worked with the BMJ this month to produce an infographic of the NICE Spondyloarthritis Guideline.…

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New Resources to Improve Care Pathways

BRITISH SOCIETY FOR RHEUMATOLOGY AND ROYAL COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS LAUNCH INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE CARE PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE WITH INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS

In May 2017, BSR and the RCGP have launched a joint Quality Improvement project to improve care for people living with inflammatory arthritis. The joint project will deliver a suite of online resources to help improve pathways between primary and secondary care, with a focus on reducing delays to diagnosis and creating standardised, shared care agreements. The recent National Clinical Audit for rheumatoid and early inflammatory arthritis revealed delays in referral from primary care to specialist treatment for people with suspected inflammatory arthritis, with only 17% of cases being referred within the three days recommended by NICE.…

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New models of MSK and Work & Health MSK webinars

We’ve just added to the ARMA website two links to recent webinar presentations: the “New models of MSK Masterclass”, presented by Christian Verrinder and Giles Hazan; and the “Work & Health MSK webinar,” lead by Tony Woolf in participation with ARUK and BSR.

Dr Christian Verrinder and Dr Giles Hazan share aspects of their experience to date in MSK commissioning, including their thoughts on: process, structure, design, procurement, implementation and review. Their webinar explores how we can build on current service provision for people with MSK conditions in order to identify how and where current services and support can be improved and reflects how this new programme of work has influenced the commissioning of MSK services.…

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