Author: Garreth

Petition hand-in for joint replacement surgery across all UK governments

Over the last year Versus Arthritis has been running a petition to promote the campaign for urgent government action to bring down waiting times and ensure people waiting for joint replacement surgery get the support they need. 46,000 people have now signed the petition.

On Wednesday 21 July, the Impossible to Ignore petition was submitted to all UK Governments. Versus Arthritis went to the Department of Health and Social Care in Westminster, and delivered it virtually to governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.…

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BASRaT edited BJSM issue

July’s edition of British Journal of Sports Medicine is edited by BASRAT Chief Executive, Steve Aspinall and references ARMA

BJSM’s July issue is an invaluable read.  Edited by BASRaT Chief Executive, Steve Aspinall, Steve focusses on both treating the patient in front of you and the power of language: integrating research into effective clinical practice.

“In a year of great turmoil and hardship for the vast majority of society, it has also been a time for organisations, professional associations and healthcare bodies to come together, working to bring about positive change and give everybody, regardless of who or where they are, the right to rehabilitation.…

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NRAS and University of Oxford Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen organisations of all shapes, sizes and purposes, adapting to changes brought on by the virus. The National Health Service (NHS) is no different and has found itself undergoing dramatic changes, at pace, in its service provision. One of the major changes introduced very rapidly when the pandemic struck, was the move from face-to-face appointments to remote consultations by phone or video to reduce infection rates.

oxford survey icons

It seems clear that some of these changes are here to stay and rheumatology teams are now working hard to determine which patients require a face-to-face appointment and identifying those who are suitable for a remote consultation. …

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Medicines in JIA booklet from NRAS

The JIA booklet Medicines in JIA was launched by NRAS earlier this year. The focus of this booklet is on the medicines that are used to treat JIA, but it also contains information about what parents and young people with JIA can expect at every stage from diagnosis onwards, showing that medicines are only one part of treatment.

This booklet was made in close partnership with parents, young people and healthcare professionals. Inside, you will find a directory containing detailed information on each of the JIA medicines, as well as information on how the immune system works, the support available from healthcare teams and other ways to help manage JIA alongside medication.…

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BCA nominated for two Memcom membership excellence awards

memcom logoThe British Chiropractic Association is delighted to share the news with the MSK community that they have been shortlisted for two Memcom membership excellence awards:

  • Best Member Support during COVID-19 (Small Organisation): BCA Team
  • CEO Leadership Award: Tom Mullarkey, MBE 

Both of these awards are in recognition of the outstanding support and direction the team demonstrated over the last 12 months in the face of a global pandemic. The Association worked hard to understand the changing needs of their members, creating resources and adapting services to support them during the crisis and the lasting effects beyond it.…

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NOA webinar speakers confirmed

NOA Webinar: COVID-19 Recovery Update

The next National Orthopaedic Alliance webinar will take place on 15 September at 1pm. The session will be an update on orthopaedic COVID-19 recovery across the UK, featuring:

  • Paul Jenkins, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Scottish Committee for Orthopaedic and Trauma (SCOT)
  • Gavan McAlinden, Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Chair of Division, Trauma, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
  • Val Harvey, Orthopaedic Patient

Find out more and register here.

Versus Arthritis MSK training

versus arthritis logoWebinar: Is it inflammatory arthritis or fibromyalgia syndrome?

This webinar will help delegates to differentiate between inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia. Learn how to identify helpful clues in the history and examination, how to effectively communicate and explain the diagnosis and facilitating self-management.

Course date: Thursday 19 August, 6-8pm
Cost: £20
Receive 2 CPD points and an attendance certificate
The webinar will be delivered via Microsoft Teams Live. BOOK HERE

Core Skills in MSK digital course

The Versus Arthritis Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care course focuses on developing the practical skills required in a typical 10-minute GP consultation.…

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Chronic pain: Unseen, unequal, unfair

A few years ago, Versus Arthritis funded the inclusion of a chronic pain questionnaire in the Health Survey for England. The findings from these questions are stark. Of great concern is that 5.5 million people in England (12% of the population) have high-impact chronic pain, the most severe form, which means a person struggles to take part in daily activities such as self-care, family, community and work.

Versus Arthritis’ new report, ‘Chronic pain in England: Unseen, unequal, unfair’ sets out key findings from the survey (initially analysed by Public Health England) and a series of recommendations which call for a fundamental re-think in how we support people with chronic pain through far-reaching solutions.…

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Raising MSK conditions up the agenda has never been more important…

… that’s why we’ve joined ARMA

Guest blog by Craig Jones, CEO of the Royal Osteoporosis Society

Later this summer the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) will launch its manifesto for a future without osteoporosis. This marks the beginning of a new chapter where we’ll turn up the volume on the fight against osteoporosis through campaigning and advocacy.

Our hospital-by-hospital approach to fostering Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) since 2015 has paid off, with 12.1m more people now having access to the gold standard for secondary fracture prevention.…

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