The way NHS services are delivered is changing. Part of this is the development of place-based partnerships which will cover a geographical area smaller than an integrated care system (ICS). These will play a key role in integrating care and improving population health, which needs to happen more locally. The King’s Fund has produced a report on place-based partnerships to outline how this is happening and to provide local health and care leaders with a set of principles to support their approach to working at place.…
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MSK & Arthritis News
Ride the wave
by Sue Brown, ARMA CEO
There’s been an optimistic feel to ARMA in the last week. A big part of this is down to our first ever virtual annual lecture. “Great lecture and discussion. As a patient I feel much more positive after listening to this!” said one person in the chat. Andrew Bennett opened the lecture with an update on the BestMSK Health Collaborative. This was followed by a wide ranging panel discussion on partnership with Public Health, Health Education and people living with MSK conditions.…
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Guest blog: The value of charity coalitions
by Charlotte Augst, Chief Executive, National Voices
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that the NHS cannot succeed on its own. Whether it’s people’s behaviours around masks or hygiene, the contribution of volunteers to keeping people safe and connected, or partnerships with communities and their organisations to reach people who might otherwise lose out on services (such as the vaccine) – the NHS needs partners.
Here at National Voices, we obviously think mostly about the partnerships that are required to help both the NHS and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) to reach more people more effectively.…
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SOMM Diploma and the FCP MSK roadmap
SOMM’s Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine plus a Top-Up Day has been accredited as Stage 1 of the Health Education England (HEE) FCP Roadmap!
This is exciting news for those applying for, or currently in, a role that involves first contact practice in primary care.
SOMM’s one-day Top-Up Day is specifically designed for those who have successfully completed the SOMM Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine (previously SOMM Diploma in Orthopaedic Medicine), and who wish to present evidence, alongside e-learning certificates, of completion of the Stage 1 level 7 ‘taught route’ requirement of the FCP MSK roadmap (HEE,2020).…
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NOA webinar: Using technology to scale up orthopaedic recovery
The National Orthopaedic Alliance’s next webinar, Using Technology to Scale up Orthopaedic Recovery, takes place on 12 May at 1pm.
The session will focus on delivering at scale to alleviate the orthopaedic backlog as well as explore how technology is helping us to work faster. Speakers will look at digital tools such as Lifebox ePOA, one of NHS Innovation Accelerator’s six key digital innovations to help hospitals recover from COVID-19. The session will also include a presentation on Orthopathway, a web platform designed to maximise the clinical effectiveness of NHS musculoskeletal services as well as ConsentWise consent automation platform.…
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Osteopathic Awareness Week 2021
Osteopathic Awareness Week to tackle habits leading to ‘Lockdown back’ and ‘Tech neck’.
The Institute of Osteopathy will be running an awareness campaign, 2 – 9 May 2021, to promote good habits to tackle the issues that have led to what is now commonly called ‘Lockdown back’ and ‘Tech neck’.
The Move Better campaign will provide a range of advice for people to move better and so improve both their physical and mental health. To follow ‘Osteopathy for Health’ on Facebook or Instagram, visit iOsteopathy.org/movebetter…
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New AHP student placement project
An innovation in Allied Health Professions (AHP) student placements has begun in which osteopathic clinics at the undergraduate institutions provide observation opportunities for other AHP students.
This Health Education England initiative, facilitated by the Institute of Osteopathy, provides a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary working amongst the next generation of AHPs for the further benefit of patient care.
NRAS #WearPurpleForJIA – Wellbeing week

The last year has been a difficult one for most children so NRAS will be having a #WearPurpleForJIA Wellbeing Week on 14th-18th June. Each day during the week children and young people with JIA will be offered wellbeing classes including art, yoga, photography, dance and a relaxation/mental health class. In the evenings NRAS is hosting Facebook Live sessions discussing all things JIA and one where the children can ask the healthcare professionals questions.
It would be lovely to have you all involved to help raise awareness that children and young people can get arthritis too.…
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BOA Annual Congress 2021 – abstracts close 7th May

Under the theme of tackling infection, the BOA Annual Congress will take place 21st-24th September 2021 at P&J Live, The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA). The programme will include the BOA keynote lectures, plenary speakers and an update from the BOA President Bob Handley on his Presidential year. The BOA have been working closely once again with the specialist societies to deliver revalidation and hot topic sessions. Sessions also include Hunterian lectures, practicalities of coding, BOA ortho committee – patient access to elective care, BOA research committee – changing clinical Practice, curriculum update and diversity to name a few.…
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New CCAA Award Badges
The CCAA launched their new award badge scheme in April, which is designed to support families coping with a child/young person with a paediatric rheumatic condition and/or uveitis. Siblings in the family are also eligible and CCAA has even designed a badge with them in mind.
Anyone (family, friends, teachers, healthcare professionals, sports coaches, neighbours etc.) can nominate a child or young person for one of the CCAA’s six collectible award badges via an online form on their website. The recipient will also get a lanyard with their first badge and a certificate.…
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