MSK & Arthritis News

Survey findings from NRAS

Summary of article published in Rheumatology Advances in Practice on 5 January, 2021

“Disease impact of rheumatoid arthritis in patients not treated with advanced therapies; survey findings from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society”

Authors: Elena Nikiphorou, Hannah Jacklin, Ailsa Bosworth, Clare Jacklin, Patrick Kiely

Background

In 2020, NRAS conducted a survey amongst its members and non-members who had RA with a disease duration more than 2 years, who were not on advanced therapies (i.e. biologic/biosimilar or targeted synthetic DMARDs (JAK inhibitors)), with the aim of revealing the everyday impact of living with RA in people not treated with advanced therapies.…

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Tackling Inequalities Fund Panel member opportunity

Versus Arthritis has teamed up with Sport England to help distribute £250,000 grants from their ‘Tackling Inequalities’ fund on behalf of the Richmond Group of Charities. The purpose of the fund is to reduce the negative impact of coronavirus and the widening of the inequalities in sport and physical activity through increasing availability of exercise opportunities in local communities.

The funding will be targeted to help support people with long-term health conditions, Black, Asian minority ethnic groups and lower socio-economic groups.…

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Guest blog: A New Deal for Prevention

by Sebastian Rees, Researcher, Reform.

At Reform, we’ve long advocated for prevention to be central to any proposals for building a healthier Britain. Tackling the drivers of ill health early reduces demand on health care services further down the line, easing pressures on our already strained system. Far more importantly, averting or delaying the development of preventable conditions allows people to live for longer in better health. If the goal of our health system is to help people build happier, healthier lives, prevention must remain a priority. …

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NOA Practical Pain Management in Orthopaedics webinar

On 7 April 2021 at 1pm, the NOA will host a webinar focused on Practical Pain Management in Orthopaedics. We will be joined by Sue Brown, CEO of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance who will highlight issues from the patient’s perspective. Diarmuid Denney from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will provide tips and tricks of therapy for joint pain. Joint Academy’s CMO and co-founder, Professor Leif Dahlberg and Orthopaedic Surgeon Christian Anker-Hansen will present the evidence base for home management of arthritis.…

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Workforce planning chart for MSK

The launch of NHS England’s Best MSK Health programme gives the population’s musculoskeletal health in England a focus and priority like never before, and much needed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

NHS England waiting times data shows people with serious MSK conditions needing diagnosis and treatment by rheumatology and elective care services are waiting much longer. The same is true for community MSK services and treatment. At the other end of the spectrum, for people who previously had no long-term conditions, the lockdown effect on mental well-being, exercise and weight-gain are significant obstacles to their musculoskeletal health now and into the future.…

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Edgar Stene Prize Winner

Every year, the Edgar Stene Prize is awarded to the person with a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease (RMD) submitting the best essay describing their individual experience of living with their condition. The winner of the Edgar Stene Prize 2021 writing on the topic, “How digital solutions benefit my life as a person with an RMD”, is Ms Stine Bjørk Brøndum Jefsen from Denmark. She will attend the Virtual EULAR Congress 2021. The second place is awarded this year to Ms Sunčica Đorđević from Serbia and third place goes to Ms Penka Velkova from Bulgaria.…

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You are invited to the virtual ARMA Lecture

Partnerships for Best MSK Health – ARMA Annual Lecture 2021

When: 6pm, Monday 19 April 2021
Registration: online

We are delighted to introduce our 2021 virtual annual lecture. The event, ‘Partnership and Best MSK Health’, will be introduced by Andrew Bennett, NHS National Clinical Director of MSK, followed by a panel discussion when he will be joined by:

  • Nuzhat Ali, National Lead MSK Health, Public Health England
  • Amanda Hensman-Crook, AHP National Clinical Fellow, Health Education England
  • Cristina Serrao, Lived Experience Ambassador, Experience of Care Team, NHS England and NHS Improvement

As we rebuild services and support after the pandemic, how can we ensure we deliver the best MSK health for the population?…

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The College becomes the Royal College of Podiatry

The College of Podiatry has been renamed as the Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod) after being granted permission to use the title by Her Majesty The Queen.

The RCPod is the professional body for podiatry and represents 10,000 members in the United Kingdom and internationally. With its members, the RCPod campaigns to raise awareness that good lower-limb health is essential, and that podiatry is a key element of preventative medicine in the wider health economy. Permission to use the royal title is granted by The Queen, who acts on advice provided to her by her ministers.…

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Foot Health Week 2021

Foot Health Week is approaching fast – 12-18 April 2021

The focus of FHW 2021 will be to highlight to the public that podiatry services are open and available for use.

There have been many changes in service provision as podiatry staff support the wider COVID-19 workforce to provide care in vaccination centres, wound care and nursing. As the roadmap to recover from the pandemic unfolds, podiatry services in MSK return to normal and podiatrists continue to work in rehabilitation and management of MSK health.…

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