Arthritis News & Musculoskeletal News from ARMA's Members

HMSA support groups for August

As you know, the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, but as far as the HMSA group meetings are concerned, HMSA is not ready to risk physical groups as yet, so all local HMSA meetings will still be virtually for a while longer. Given the virtual meetings have given so many more people access to this type of support, even when physical meetings do re-start, they will be combined with virtual meetings, so everyone gets a chance to attend.

The dates for the support groups for August are listed below.…

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NASS launches campaign to achieve Gold Standard Time to Diagnosis for Axial SpA

On 22 June 2021, the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) launched the Act on Axial SpA campaign.

It currently takes an average of 8.5 years to diagnose axial SpA. This is too long, and NASS aims to drive this down this down by introducing the world’s first Gold Standard Time to Diagnosis of just one year.

Axial spondyloarthritis is an inflammatory disease of the spine and joints. Inflammation where muscles attach to the bones, causes extreme pain. If left untreated, it can permanently fuse bones together.…

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BOA Annual Congress 2021 general registration now open

The BOA Annual Congress will take place 21-24 September 2021. The Congress programme will be created around the theme of ‘Tackling Infection’, with four days of lectures including three days of exhibition being held for the first time at P&J Live, The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA).

General registration closes on 5 September 2021 so make sure to book by then to get the best rates, after that a late registration fee will apply. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will no on-site registration this year.…

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Petition hand-in for joint replacement surgery across all UK governments

Over the last year Versus Arthritis has been running a petition to promote the campaign for urgent government action to bring down waiting times and ensure people waiting for joint replacement surgery get the support they need. 46,000 people have now signed the petition.

On Wednesday 21 July, the Impossible to Ignore petition was submitted to all UK Governments. Versus Arthritis went to the Department of Health and Social Care in Westminster, and delivered it virtually to governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.…

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BASRaT edited BJSM issue

July’s edition of British Journal of Sports Medicine is edited by BASRAT Chief Executive, Steve Aspinall and references ARMA

BJSM’s July issue is an invaluable read. Edited by BASRaT Chief Executive, Steve Aspinall, Steve focusses on both treating the patient in front of you and the power of language: integrating research into effective clinical practice.

“In a year of great turmoil and hardship for the vast majority of society, it has also been a time for organisations, professional associations and healthcare bodies to come together, working to bring about positive change and give everybody, regardless of who or where they are, the right to rehabilitation.…

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NRAS and University of Oxford Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen organisations of all shapes, sizes and purposes, adapting to changes brought on by the virus. The National Health Service (NHS) is no different and has found itself undergoing dramatic changes, at pace, in its service provision. One of the major changes introduced very rapidly when the pandemic struck, was the move from face-to-face appointments to remote consultations by phone or video to reduce infection rates.

oxford survey icons

It seems clear that some of these changes are here to stay and rheumatology teams are now working hard to determine which patients require a face-to-face appointment and identifying those who are suitable for a remote consultation. …

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Medicines in JIA booklet from NRAS

The JIA booklet Medicines in JIA was launched by NRAS earlier this year. The focus of this booklet is on the medicines that are used to treat JIA, but it also contains information about what parents and young people with JIA can expect at every stage from diagnosis onwards, showing that medicines are only one part of treatment.

This booklet was made in close partnership with parents, young people and healthcare professionals. Inside, you will find a directory containing detailed information on each of the JIA medicines, as well as information on how the immune system works, the support available from healthcare teams and other ways to help manage JIA alongside medication.…

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BCA nominated for two Memcom membership excellence awards

The British Chiropractic Association is delighted to share the news with the MSK community that they have been shortlisted for two Memcom membership excellence awards:

Best Member Support during COVID-19 (Small Organisation): BCA Team
CEO Leadership Award: Tom Mullarkey, MBE

Both of these awards are in recognition of the outstanding support and direction the team demonstrated over the last 12 months in the face of a global pandemic. The Association worked hard to understand the changing needs of their members, creating resources and adapting services to support them during the crisis and the lasting effects beyond it.…

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NOA webinar speakers confirmed

NOA Webinar: COVID-19 Recovery Update

The next National Orthopaedic Alliance webinar will take place on 15 September at 1pm. The session will be an update on orthopaedic COVID-19 recovery across the UK, featuring:

Paul Jenkins, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Scottish Committee for Orthopaedic and Trauma (SCOT)
Gavan McAlinden, Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Chair of Division, Trauma, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Val Harvey, Orthopaedic Patient

Find out more and register here.

Versus Arthritis MSK training

Webinar: Is it inflammatory arthritis or fibromyalgia syndrome?

This webinar will help delegates to differentiate between inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia. Learn how to identify helpful clues in the history and examination, how to effectively communicate and explain the diagnosis and facilitating self-management.

Course date: Thursday 19 August, 6-8pm
Cost: £20
Receive 2 CPD points and an attendance certificate
The webinar will be delivered via Microsoft Teams Live. BOOK HERE

Core Skills in MSK digital course

The Versus Arthritis Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care course focuses on developing the practical skills required in a typical 10-minute GP consultation.…

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