MSK & Arthritis News

Are you a champion in primary care?

NASS bannerNASS is calling for first contact practitioners, GPs, community MSK physiotherapists and other NHS primary and community care professionals to apply for the opportunity to join their brand-new Champions in Primary Care programme. 

Successful applicants will work together with NASS to help end diagnostic delay in axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA). Those selected to join the two-year development programme will receive leadership development support, training in the theory and methods of quality improvement and assistance with identifying and implementing improvement projects which they will test and refine.…

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Guest blog: No pain, no gain?

Ben WilkinsLooking differently at leisure places as spaces for chronic pain management

by Ben Wilkins, CEO, Good Boost

15.5 million people in England live with chronic pain. Approximately 5.5 million (12% of the population) have high-impact chronic pain, where pain makes it an on-going challenge to take part in daily activities (Versus Arthritis, 2021). The main contributing factor for 8-in-10 people living with chronic pain are musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis, back and neck pain. For people living with this, it’s not just a ‘ache in your back’ or a ‘twinge in your knee’, it’s an unrelenting and all-consuming part of everyday life.…

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Diploma in MSK Medicine exam

Registration is now open for the second sitting of FSEM’s Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine exam, aimed at doctors and allied health professionals looking to evidence their competency across the breadth of MSK care.

Developed jointly by the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (UK) and the Primary Care Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Medicine Society (PCRMM), the examination and associated qualification recognises excellence in MSK care and provides a benchmark of quality for both service commissioners and patients.

This Diploma will support evidencing competency as a GP or GP Working in Extended Role, as well as allied health professionals working towards advanced practice roles (including first contact practitioner and advanced practitioners in primary care) in a range of community settings.…

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Learning to live with the virus – collectively

As Plan B ends in England and the other nations in the UK remove different aspects of COVID protections, the news is all of learning to live with the virus and getting back to normal. For very many people with MSK conditions this is not the experience. Whether it is people facing long waits for treatment or people taking medication that puts them at increased risk, living with the virus and its consequences is harder for some.

As Plan B ends, ARMA members’ helplines are again flooded with calls from people who are immunosuppressed, worried about their needs being forgotten again.…

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The changing healthcare landscape

In her most recent blog about the changes in the healthcare landscape caused by the pandemic, our National Patient Champion, Ailsa Bosworth MBE reflects on how these changes will impact on the care of people with RA and Adult JIA.  She considers how it has become even more important for those with these autoimmune conditions to be able to learn about their disease and acquire skills and coping strategies to enable better supported self-management, and Ailsa explains how NRAS can help with this.…

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Upcoming MSK and sports medicine events at the RSM

The Royal Society of Medicine have a number of upcoming events. All events have an online option.

Musculoskeletal examination masterclass

Date: Monday 28 February 2022
Time: 9:00am to 5:20pm GMT

RSM Members: £30.00-£96.00 
Non-members: £55.00-£176.00

Register for live stream
(in-person event is cancelled)

This will be an exciting world-class conference in the fundamental examination of the musculoskeletal system as part of the patient or athlete. Join this popular annual masterclass for the opportunity to learn from specialists about the key elements of the musculoskeletal examination.…

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Recent BSR report on health inequalities

The British Society of Rheumatology recently published its National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit report (opens in PDF) focusing on the association between ethnicity, processes of care and health outcomes, highlighting the variation between ethnic groups.

Some of the report’s key findings include:

  • Fewer Black, Asian and ethnic minority patients reported disease remission by three-month follow-up compared to white patients (30% compared to 37%)
  • Black, Asian and ethnic minority patients were more likely to report symptoms of anxiety or depression compared to white patients (33% compared to 30%)

The report concludes that there appears to be equality in provision of care at the start of the patient journey, but the outcomes highlight the imbalance in equity.…

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Are you looking for a new opportunity?

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is looking for new colleagues to join their team. There are some great opportunities to join the charity as they embark on their ambitious next three-year strategy.

Will you help NRAS deliver their vision of ‘Life without limits for those living with RA or JIA’?

If you have a can-do attitude to work and life, with the skills needed, you could be just the person NRAS want to hear from. There are five great roles that to be filled as soon as possible:

  • Director of Innovation and Services
  • Engagement & Services Manager
  • Services Administrator
  • Salesforce Administrator
  • Senior Advocacy & Policy Manager

To find out more about each role and to review job specification and how to apply please visit www.nras.org.uk/about-nras/work-for-us

ESCAPE-pain facilitator training

Enabling Self-management and Coping with Arthritic Pain using Exercise (ESCAPE-pain): facilitator training courses

The ESCAPE-pain programme is an evidence based, group rehabilitation programme that aims to support people living with chronic knee or hip pain, or non-specific low back pain:

  • ESCAPE-pain for knees and hips
  • ESCAPE-pain for backs 

The flexibility of ESCAPE-pain means it can be delivered in a variety of locations and by a range of professionals. The programmes have been successfully delivered in outpatient physiotherapy departments, leisure centres and local community settings by physiotherapists, osteopaths, and exercise professionals.…

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