Garreth | Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance

Lupus Awareness Month 2024

October is Lupus Awareness Month in the UK, which plays a crucial role in increasing awareness and understanding of this chronic condition. The LUPUS UK campaign this year is #ThisIsLupus, which aims to raise awareness of lupus as a ‘dynamic disability,’ where an individual’s symptoms can vary in severity and impact over time. We also aim to highlight the unique experiences of those with lupus, as no two people share the same story.

During the month of October, LUPUS UK will be featuring lots of members of their community on social media platforms using the hashtags #ThisIsLupus and #LupusAwarenessMonth to raise awareness.…

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Sport Rehabilitator at the Paris Olympics

Samantha Parsons, BASRaT registered Sport Rehabilitator and Director of Arch Health and Fitness in Kew played a key role in supporting GB tennis in Paris.

Sam has shared her rehab story with BASRat, including the preparation, day-to-day tasks, heat management, food and those infamous cardboard beds!

Samantha is pictured here with GB tennis stars Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury, who have nine Grand Slam doubles titles between them.

Read the full story here.

Over to you Prime Minister

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

After two days in Belfast launching the ARMA MSK Health Inequalities report in Northern Ireland, I found myself on the plane back to England drafting the ARMA response to the Darzi report. I don’t think there are any new revelations in the report. Yet I do think it is important, and something everyone concerned about MSK health should take seriously. I recognise the truth in what it says.

Lord Darzi was asked to carry out an independent investigation into the NHS in England with a very short timescale.…

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New NHS Resource for adults with chronic primary pain

NHS England has published a new decision support tool – Making decisions to help you live well with chronic primary pain.

The resource is intended as a decision aid for people aged 16 years and over with chronic primary pain to help you think about what options you might like to consider to help you live well with pain.

You can find the decision support tool here.

EULAR launches the Edgar Stene Prize Competition 2025

EULAR PARE has announced the launch of the EULAR Edgar Stene Prize essay competition 2025 on the topic: “Growing up with an RMD – learning, transitioning from paediatrics and the impacts on childhood and the family”.

The competition is open to people aged 18 and over living with rheumatic and MSK diseases (RMDs) who were diagnosed with an RMD during childhood to participate and write about their personal experiences on the competition topic.

In addition, for 2025, parents of children living with RMDs are also invited to participate.…

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ARMA welcomes new Chair

Following elections at the recent AGM, ARMA welcomed a new Chair of our board of trustees.

Speaking about his new role, ARMA Chair Chris Martey said: “I am delighted to be stepping into the role of Chair in this pivotal time for the charity, where it’s work, reach and impact is going from strength to strength. It is a privilege to be taking over the mantle from Dirk, having worked closely alongside him as Vice-Chair during the last year of his tenure.…

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ARMA response to the Darzi report

12/9/24

The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) welcomes the publication of the Darzi report recognising the serious and widespread problems in the NHS. In particular we welcome the recognition of the need for an increased focus on community services and prevention.

As Lord Darzi recognises in his report, Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are one of the biggest causes of people being unable to work due to ill health in the UK. A significant proportion of this MSK ill health is preventable and community MSK services are vital to supporting all those with MSK conditions.…

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Three horizons of MSK

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

I was reminded the other day of the three horizons model and thought how well this expresses the tensions we face in MSK. There is wide recognition that how we do things now doesn’t work for a whole host of reasons. It was this realisation that led Sussex MSK Partnership to try to do something radically different. They came up with community assessment days, which have excited a lot of people. While they experiment with this, they have had to continue delivering the service as it is currently arranged.…

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UCO joins Health Sciences University

The University College of Osteopathy (UCO) has officially joined Health Sciences University (HSU), formerly known as AECC University College, as of 1 August 2024.

The UCO School of Osteopathy, now part of HSU, continues its rich heritage of over 100 years of osteopathic education and research excellence. This significant transition honours UCO’s legacy and opens up new opportunities for collaboration and growth into the broader health sciences sector. For more information, visit here.

Opportunity to host a SOMM course in 2025

The Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine will have a busy few months ahead with their ‘Foundation in Musculoskeletal Medicine’ and ‘Theory and Practice of Injection Therapy’ courses; webinars; and hosting collaborative events.

SOMM is also planning their 2025 programme. If someone would like to host a SOMM course next year, please email SOMM’s office for more information: admin@sommcourses.org