Author: Garreth

The Arthritis Revolution in Cheltenham

Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust (GAT) is part of the “Arthritis Revolution” in Cheltenham.

Welcome to the “Arthritis Revolution” that is happening in patient care at Cheltenham General Hospital. The revolutionary approach is aimed at getting between 800 and 1,000 patients a year home much quicker after hip or knee replacement surgery.

Challenged by NHS England in mid-2023 to reduce the Length of Stay for knee and hip replacement surgery from an average of more than 100 hours to a new target of 65 hours, a multidisciplinary team from 13 medical disciplines managed to achieve an average, for all patients, of just 31 hours.…

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Free online peer support

The National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) run free online monthly meetups, where people with axial SpA can meet others with the same condition to share advice and get support.

The topics vary each month and focus on practical ways to support self-management, alongside medical care. The meetups are part of the ‘Your SpAce’ programme and healthcare professionals can order free promotional materials to easily signpost their patients.

NASS at the EULAR Congress

The National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) will be at EULAR Congress to present on their supported self-management for people living with axial SpA.

Programme Manager Zoë Clark will present in the session ‘Exploring self-management: definitions and life’ on Saturday, 15 June 2024 at 11.45am.

If you’re attending EULAR and would like to meet to discuss the NASS Supported Self-management Programme, please get in touch with Zoë at zoe@nass.co.uk.

New venue for SOMM Foundation in MSK Medicine

The Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine (SOMM) has added a new host to its venue portfolio – Perth Royal Infirmary.

The hospital will host the SOMM Foundation in Musculoskeletal Medicine Module, Unit 1 in October/November 2024.

This 4-day Unit covers the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow and wrist/hand. The unit is highly practical and combines this with theory lectures, clinical reasoning, and a review of functional anatomy. Read more

Due to demand, an additional THEORY AND PRACTICE OF INJECTION THERAPY module has been added to the course programme this year, in Liverpool this September. …

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Engaging with NASS, my national RMD organisation…

…how it enriched and changed the quality of my life.

Guest blog from EULAR Edgar Stene Prize essay competition entrant, Geoff Lindsay.

I’ve lived with axial Spa for 50 years.

November 1973. I’m 24. Every time I put on my tight bell-bottom Levi jeans I got bad pain in my left hip. Am I going crazy? How can wearing jeans give me a pain so bad I can hardly walk?  Walking up stairs is very painful. Stepping up a kerb is a task I would limp another twenty metres to avoid.…

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Bridging the Gap Report

We Are Undefeatable has launched the report from Big Talk, a public consultation which went live last year. Read more about their report "Bridging the gap: understanding how to support people with long term health conditions to become more physically active".

The report covers:

  • The motivators and barriers that people living with long term health conditions face being active
  • Why the NHS is only a starting point for people with health conditions to become more active
  • How the ‘empathy gap’ may be hindering support for people with health conditions
  • The pivotal role that health charities can and must play in supporting physical activity
  • What friends, families and professionals need to feel more confident encouraging physical activity
  • Why local leadership and coordination is a critical enabler
  • The views of professionals across a range of sectors

The report outlines the actions We Are Undefeatable is already taking in response to these insights.…

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Creating your AS flare toolkit

Most people with axial SpA tend to have times of flare and times when their symptoms are more manageable or settled. A flare can include an increase in pain and joint stiffness, either local or generally.

online meetingFind tools to help you to feel more in control and prepare for axial SpA flares with the NASS axial SpA online peer support meeting on 4 June 2024 at 6pm.

Join this friendly online meeting to:

  • Find tools to help you prepare for flares and create your flare toolkit
  • Get advice to reduce the impact a flare has on you
  • Connect with other people with axial SpA
  • Share your experiences
  • Ask the NASS team any questions you may have

Book via this link.…

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Act Now Report Parliamentary Launch Event

Act Now report segmentLast week ARMA held a Parliamentary launch for the Act Now report on MSK inequalities.

We were delighted to be joined by so many members, contributors to the report and leaders in MSK. There was a palpable energy in the room and a sense of commitment across the breadth of MSK health to tackle inequalities together.

We were privileged to have MP Tom Randall, Chair of the Axial Spondyloarthritis All Party Group in Westminster, host the event. His recognition of the report’s timeliness underscored the importance of the report’s recommendations.…

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Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures – CPD webinar

On Thursday, 25 April 2024, 4-5pm the Institute of Osteopathy is hosting a webinar on Osteoporosis and fragility fractures from its series of educational CPD webinars.

Register now to join iO Professional Development Manager, Daniel McCarthy, as he guides you through everything you need to know about the condition along with some interesting case studies. Healthcare practitioners can book attendance to this webinar for £10 (iO Members can attend for free). 

Find out more from the iosteopathy.org news page.

New National Clinical Director

NHS England has appointed Dr Lesley Kay as the National Clinical Director (NCD) for Musculoskeletal.

Lesley brings a wealth of experience to the NCD role as a Consultant rheumatologist at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS FT, former Chair of the British Society for Rheumatology Clinical Affairs Committee and as the former GIRFT Clinical Lead for Rheumatology.

Outgoing NCD Andy Bennett will be taking on a new role with GIRFT as Clinical Advisor focussing on community MSK services.

We wish them both the very best of luck and look forward to continuing to work with them closely in their new roles.