Garreth | Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance

NICE guideline on chronic pain: assessment and management

The final scope for the NICE Chronic pain: assessment and management guideline has now been published, along with all the stakeholder comments that were received during consultation and responses to these comments.

NICE would like to thank you for your continued involvement and interest in this guideline. The comments received during the consultation period helped us to develop and refine the scope. ARMA has been identified as a key stakeholder for this topic and will be contacted again when the draft guideline is released for consultation.…

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MSK Medicine explained in new website

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK has launched a new website including information highlighting what Musculoskeletal (MSK) Medicine is to the public and the healthcare community. There is now a dedicated MSK webpage outlining ‘who sees musculoskeletal medicine doctors’ emphasising that Sport and Exercise Medicine specialists, with MSK skills, treat a wide range of patients from those with a common MSK condition to elite athletes. It also puts MSK Medicine in the context of the NHS and Exercise Medicine, with reference to working examples of NHS MSK services.…

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UK Gout Society at the Welsh Assembly

On 28 November 2017, the UK Gout Society joined forces with Welsh Assembly Members, doctors and other charities to help raise awareness of gout in Wales.

Speaking at the Welsh Assembly, Rhun ap Iorwerth AM, the Plaid Cymru Health Spokesperson who hosted the event, said: “The impact of musculoskeletal conditions in Wales is huge and we have a big job to limit that impact. Working together to raise awareness of gout must play a part. We know that gout is often seriously undertreated and greatly misunderstood.”…

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Portsmouth ARMA spring newsletter and Easter events

The spring edition of the Portsmouth Hospitals’ Department of Rheumatology newsletter is out.

It contains dates and details of a number of upcoming events, groups and meetings, including:

Funky Knit Day, a knitting event to raise awareness of Raynauds, 07 Feb 2018 – see the poster
Portsmouth Cream Tea & Light Music event, 4 March 2018 – see the poster
Portsmouth Easter Tea Dance, 24 March 2018 – see the poster

For more, open and save the spring newsletter (in PDF) here.

BASEM Foundation Skills Course June 2018

Online booking is currently open for this year’s BASEM Foundation Skills Course on 10-13 June 2018 at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire. This three-and-a-half day residential course is aimed at providing a thorough grounding in the areas that make up Sports Medicine.

Hands-on and practical, it will cover anatomy, pathologies and practical examinations of the foot, ankle, knee, shoulder and spine; exercise physiology; nutrition in sport; sport and doping; practical rehab and event medicine.

Further information and an online booking facility are available on the BASEM web site www.basem.co.uk…

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The Safe Care Steering Group survey

We all expect our healthcare to be safe, but mistakes can happen that may put patients at unnecessary risk.

This is the focus of the Safe Care Steering Group overseeing a James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership about safe care for adults with complex health needs, who have more than one condition or illness, or who need care from different teams and/or some care to be provided in their home.

On behalf of the Allied Health Professions Federation, Dr Jo Watson, RCOT’s Assistant Director – Education and Research, is part of this Steering Group.…

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Game of Life

The timely, effective and responsive assessment and management of patients using the Patient Advice and Information Lines (PAIL) leads to improved quality of care and patient experience.

Whilst a number of the Patient Advice and Information Line calls are related to clinical concerns, patients, family and carers often talk about other life events that may impact on their treatment and management plan. Clinical Nurse Specialists and Members of the Rheumatology Multidisciplinary team need to be responsive with a wealth of knowledge and experience; they must also be imaginative with a bit of Health Service/ Community Care “common sense” to support these patients through these life events.…

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RCN Rheumatology18 is next week

The Royal College of Nursing is putting the final preparations in place for the RCN Rheumatology Nursing workshop 2018.

12 Jan 2018
from 11:00 – 15:00

This event will enable specialist nurses to continue to deliver excellent care, follow best practice and inspire colleagues despite continued NHS barriers and difficulties.

The workshop is based on the results of a forum survey which asked you to identify issues relating to the management of rheumatological disease, interventions, treatment and support. The aim is to address these issues as well as develop the unmet need for clinical leadership skills and personal and professional resilience.…

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Pharmacists can play a key role in an integrated patient care team

Guest blog by Robbie Turner, Director of England, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

With people living longer lives, the number living with multiple long-term conditions is rising, leading to billions of pounds in additional health and social care costs. This will be a scenario very familiar to the members of ARMA.

Treatment and support for the growing number of people with long term conditions such as arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions is placing significant demands on the NHS and other public services. Around £15 billion was spent on medicines in 2015/16, which are the most common solution chosen to help manage symptoms for people with long term conditions. …

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