Author: Garreth

Call for mental health to be prioritised for musculoskeletal patients

In April 2019, ARMA, supported by UK charity Arthritis Action, released a new report looking at the impact of mental health on people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. The report followed a roundtable event, organised by ARMA in March, which, for the first time, brought together leaders from Mind, NHS England, Arthritis Action, and other health charities to look at ways to improve access to effective psychological support for MSK patients. 

roundtable-document

Sue Brown, CEO of ARMA, says:

“It’s not surprising that mental health is so common amongst people with conditions which cause long term pain.…

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MACP to call a membership vote

The Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) is shortly to call a vote of its current members to widen its membership categories in order to broaden access and strengthen the voice of musculoskeletal physiotherapy. The vote for change in membership signifies a potentially large change for the organisation and so it has consulted its membership over the past six months to determine if this is the direction the organisation wants to explore.

It recognises that training to become an MACP is one form of specialist post registration in the UK and so by broadening access through different categories it will lead to wider workforce of physiotherapists providing excellent care for people musculoskeletal conditions.…

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Musculoskeletal conditions on the national public health agenda

governemnt logoFor the first time since Public Health England (PHE) came into being, musculoskeletal conditions have been mentioned in the Government’s remit letter to PHE. PHE is the national body with responsibility for the nation’s health and wellbeing and tackling health inequalities. Each year the Government sends them a set of instructions about their priorities. In 2019/20 this specifically includes ‘work-focused musculoskeletal prevention activity’.

In 2018, PHE made musculoskeletal conditions one of its priority programmes, and so it’s great that these conditions are now taking their place on the national agenda.…

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Aspiring to Excellence to improve axial SpA care

Making quality the standard: ‘Aspiring to Excellence’ award programme targets clinicians determined to improve axial SpA (AS) care

On 1 May 2019, the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS) will open applications for Aspiring to Excellence—an innovative new award programme designed to encourage and recognise service improvement in axial SpA (AS) patient care.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a painful, progressive, life-long form of inflammatory arthritis affecting 1 in 200 adults in the UK, with symptoms usually starting in late teens to early twenties.…

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CEO update – MSK Rebellion: a sustainable MSK system

by Sue Brown, ARMA CEO

MSK services seem to me to operate very like an ecosystem.  If any part of the system isn’t in balance, the pressures will be felt elsewhere. No ESCAPE-pain means surgeons spending time with people who don’t need surgery; poor understanding of inflammatory conditions in primary care means more pressure on GPs as people don’t reach the rheumatologist; no Fracture Liaison Service means more fractures and more pressure on hospitals. Always the result of the system being out of balance is a person, in pain, not getting what they need.…

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BCA Autumn Conference 2019

The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) wishes to inform you about their autumn conference which is taking place on the 12 and 13 October 2019 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, with speaker presentations and workshops focusing on Chiropractic: Across the Ages.

There will be the President’s Lecture again this year, as well as talks and workshops from Dr Steve Williams, Jake Cooke, Aurelie Marchand, Jesper Dahl – plus much more!

Programme Highlights:

  • Welcome to Conference and Warm up with Kahoot! Catherine Quinn & Bronwen Henley
  • President’s Lecture
  • How to make your clinic a trusted centre in your community – Simple principles to build a good reputation in your area without using selling techniques: Tone Tellefsen Hughes
  • The hip OA continuum – balance between force and form: Jesper Dahl
  • British Chiropractic Association Annual General Meeting – taking place Friday 11 October
  • Bad balance, bad back: Dr Jake Cooke
  • Clinical gems for the older child – this is a provisional title which may change: Dr Steve Williams
  • And more!
…

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Your views on health and care technology

NHSX is conducting a short survey to find out about staff, patient and service users’ tech priorities. It takes less than three minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous.

NHSX is a new body which aims to bring the benefits of modern technology to every patient and clinician. It will combine the best talent from government, the NHS and industry. NHSX will aim to create the most advanced health and care service in the world to diagnose diseases earlier, free up staff time and empower patients to take greater control of their own healthcare.…

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New ARMA member: BASRat

BASRaT, the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators has joined ARMA and we are delighted to welcome them on board.

As the UK regulator, BASRaT guides Sport Rehabilitators on all aspects of their role and responsibilities, ensuring professional competency and continued professional development. BASRaT’s mission is to champion, raise awareness and support areas of growth within the profession.

BASRaT works hard to promote the benefits of Sport Rehabilitation and awareness of the profession. Sport Rehabilitators aid people with musculoskeletal pain, injury or illness.…

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New resources for leaders to work together around the NHS Long Term Plan

The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) has developed free support resources for health, care and voluntary sector leaders who want to drive action through partnership working around the NHS Long Term Plan. The resources include online learning, webinars, workshops, coaching and individual support and are aimed at ICS/STP leads, commissioners, clinicians, and professionals from the voluntary sector.

The NHS Long Term Plan commits local healthcare systems to working in a new way, including a focus on prevention and reducing health inequalities.…

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Guest Blog: Active Hospitals – OUH SEM Pilot

The Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust Pilot

By Dr Christopher Speers, Sport and Exercise Medicine Consultant Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide1 and it contributes significantly to the worldwide burden of non-communicable disease2, 3. Hospitals, historically, have been dominated by a culture of rest4. Promoting rest contradicts the evidence which clearly demonstrates that disease outcomes are better for moving more and that post hospital syndrome, or hospital deconditioning, leads to increased risk and adverse outcomes5, 6.…

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