MSK & Arthritis News

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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ORUK joins ARMA

Last week saw ARMA welcome new member,  Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK), to the alliance.

ORUK funds breakthrough research and education programmes in bone, joint and muscle wellbeing to reduce the burden of poor musculoskeletal health on individuals, workplaces and our health system.  The charity was established in 1989 by the orthopaedic surgeon Ronald Furlong FRCS and has become one of the most significant funders of musculoskeletal research, education and innovation in the UK, working alongside many of the UK’s leading MSK professionals and institutions. …

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#SolvingTogether hip and knee replacement challenge

#SolvingTogether is an initiative to capture, assess, test and share ideas that support elective recovery. It was initiated by Director of Transformation for NHS England and Improvement Tim Ferris. It takes the form of a crowdsourcing platform where people can post ideas, backed up by tweet chats.

The major phase of #SolvingTogether will start in mid-February 2022. It will consist of six challenges that we will ask a huge range of people to respond to: people working at the point of care, service users and families, clinical and managerial leaders, partners in other sectors and clinical innovators and entrepreneurs.…

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FLS amendment to the Health and Care Bill

Lord Black’s amendment to the Health and Care Bill calling for equal access to FLS

On 20 January 2022, the House of Lords were again debating the Health and Care Bill and Lord Black of Brentwood put forward an amendment to the Bill which would make Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) a core service offered by the NHS in England.

Lord Black’s amendment received cross-party support and was co-signed by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Lord Rennard and Baroness Masham of Ilton.…

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Rheumatology PIFU guidance

The updated rheumatology PIFU (Patient Initiated Follow-Up) guidance is now on NHS England and NHS Improvement’s FutureNHS platform. The document is aimed at clinicians, service managers and commissioners the guidance supports the appropriate, safe, and sustainable implementation and delivery of PIFU for people with rheumatological conditions who are under the care of adult rheumatology services. 

See it on the FutureNHS platform (account required).

The guidance can be viewed in “draft” form at this link, once signed off, it will be published on the NHSE website.…

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Arthritis Action Marks 80th Anniversary

2022 marks 80 years of Arthritis Action supporting communities affected by arthritis, with a year of special events and activities. To commemorate this milestone anniversary, the charity introduces a year-long campaign of events and activities recognising the members, partners, volunteers, and organisations who have shown their generous support over the past eight decades.

Some highlighted activities planned for the following months include:

  • Arthritis Action’s 80 Faces Campaign, celebrating 80 of the charity’s closest supporters and thanking them for their vital help throughout the past 80 years
  • The #kickupschallenge launch event, a challenge event on social media
  • An 80 Portraits challenge, with Arthritis Action’s Corporate Partnerships Manager Victoria Clarke, commissioned to paint 80 Portraits over the next twelve months with proceeds donated to the 80th Anniversary fund
  • A report developed in partnership with YouGov, looking at the state of play and needs of working-age people currently living with arthritis in Great Britain
  • An ‘80 Miles’ walking challenge with Arthritis Action’s Dietitian and Services Development Manager, Martin Lau

Full information on the campaign plans can be found on Arthritis Action’s 80th Anniversary page.…

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Vitamin D and Calcium webinar

Vitamin D and Calcium – an overview with a focus on bone health
PCRMM webinar, Tuesday 1 March 2022, 7 – 8.30pm

This webinar about calcium and vitamin D will cover: indications for testing; interpretation and significance of abnormal results; calcium and vitamin D replacement; and, a brief overview of the evidence and clinical need for calcium and vitamin D replacement in the context of musculoskeletal disease.

This extremely interesting and topical webinar will be run by Dr Zoe Paskins and Dr Sarah Hardcastle.…

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