Author: Garreth

Giving GPs the Tools

On the 30th November 2017, the HMSA launched its ‘Giving GPs the Tools’ campaign! Click here to see the poster, full size.

With funding for UK healthcare held by GPs, a good relationship with your GP based on working in a partnership, is vital. They are the gateway to access any specialist services and interventions we may need. Yet time and time again, the HMSA hears about negative experiences. Positive management of the conditions the HMSA supports, needs to involve a well-informed GP working in partnership with their patient.…

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CEO update – Spreading good practice

One thing we seem very good at in the MSK world is identifying examples of good practice. The NHSE/ARMA regional events have showcased a raft of excellent initiatives which make better use of NHS resources whilst also improving patient care. What is often harder to achieve is spreading that good practice.

Last week I attended a conference on delivering sustainable healthcare, which focused on why this is so difficult and what we can do to improve it. All very relevant to MSK improvement.…

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Portsmouth Department of Rheumatology dancing class

Fourteen patients and their partners and staff from the Department of Rheumatology are about to complete their 6-week ballroom class. Over the weeks they will have taken an additional 12,000 steps and exercised for around extra 5.5 hours.

Claire Jeffries, Rheumatology Specialist, Physiotherapist and Hydrotherapy Manager, points out that there are many health benefits of dancing: “it’s great for people of all ages, shapes and sizes”.

Dancing offers a wide range of physical and mental benefits:

  • improved condition of your heart and lungs
  • increased muscular tone, strength, endurance and motor fitness
  • increased aerobic fitness
  • weight management
  • stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
  • better coordination, balance, agility and flexibility
  • increased physical confidence
  • improved mental functioning and psychological wellbeing
  • greater self-confidence and self-esteem

The Department of Rheumatology would encourage people living with Arthritis and connective tissue diseases to consider dance as a form of activity.…

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DaM-it Arthritis Family Fun Day at Center Parcs Longleat

A fun-packed day for all

On Sunday 22nd October 2017, the Department of Rheumatology staff hosted more than fifteen tables for children’s games and crafts – f rom Dominos, colouring to ghostly table lights, and homemade first aid kits – whilst Dads and Mums living with arthritis and connective tissues attended a number of short presentations aimed at providing help and advice:

  • Strategies for coping with a diagnosis and moving forward
  • How to manage family life work and arthritis and connective tissue diseases
  • Incorporating the benefits for staying active and eating healthily

The DaM-it Arthritis project is funded through the Department of Rheumatology’s charitable funds and non-conditional educational grants, offering free events to support the community of Dads and Mums affected by Arthritis and Connective Tissue Diseases and their families.…

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NASS win award for supporting individuals to take control of their care

NASS are delighted to be named as winners photo of awardsin the 2017 AbbVie Sustainable Healthcare Patients as Partner Awards. The awards recognise those who have made an exceptional contribution to the lives of patients and contributed toward a more sustainable health service.

Click here to see a full-size photo of the presentation.

NASS were named as winners of the category ‘Supporting individuals to take control of their care,’ in recognition of the physiotherapy and hydrotherapy sessions NASS branches provide to people with AS across the UK.…

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DWP Community partners programme

The Department for Work and Pensions is looking to second people with a professional or lived experience of musculoskeletal conditions to work on an exciting, new project. The Community Partners Programme is a new initiative working with Jobcentre colleagues to enhance our service to customers with disabilities and health conditions.

We are looking to second a colleague from a local organisation to be a Musculoskeletal Community Partner to work across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. We are looking to arrange secondments with organisations who would like their colleagues to gain valuable experience in a government department, and to share their specialist skills and knowledge to enhance the supported to Jobcentre colleagues with disabilities and health conditions.…

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Institute of Osteopathy Convention 2018 – Call for presentations

The Institute of Osteopathy is proud to be the professional membership organisation for UK osteopaths. Our mission is to unite, support, promote and develop the profession of osteopathy for the improvement of public health and care.

Each year we run a three-day, multi-streamed conference for the profession. The event is the biggest opportunity in the UK for osteopaths to come together to network with like-minded healthcare colleagues and to take part in high quality training. There are also opportunities to sponsor the awards and exhibit at the event as a way for external organisations to raise the awareness of what they do.…

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RheumaBuddy App

NRAS have partnered with Daman, a Danish digital Healthcare company, to bring you RheumaBuddy.

The aim of the app is to create an overview of your Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) on a daily basis by discovering patterns and ultimately gaining a greater control of the condition. As well as creating a great overview, RheumaBuddy allows you to log sleep, exercise and hours of work or school. It is also possible to chat with other patients and learn from their experiences.…

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The Fourth EULAR PARE Best Practice Webinar – 14th December

The EULAR organisation is particularly delighted that Hans Bijlsma, EULAR President, has kindly agreed to share his knowledge and insights on some hot topics for our next webinar:

“News on biologics/biosimilars, JAK-inhibitors and Glucocorticoids
as well as insights into the latest EULAR Guidelines and their development”

The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, 14 December, 14.00 – 15.30 CET.

It will be hosted via WEBEX and you will have to register in advance with Birte Glüsing (birte.gluesing@eular.org) at the EULAR Secretariat to receive the details for joining us.…

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Spark innovation for the everyday challenges of arthritis

Recently, Arthritis Research UK has launched another round of Spark funding in collaboration with the Design Council. The Spark programme provides funding and support to UK-based innovators to develop products that will help tackle the everyday challenges that people with arthritis face, so improving their quality of life.

This exciting initiative aims to support the development of assistive products that help people living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions to live well, to help people be independent and to be in control of their lives as much as possible.…

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