Author: Garreth

New Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine

Tues 8 June 2021 – delivered online

Applications are now open from doctors and allied health professionals for a new Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine that sets the standard for MSK knowledge across the entire breadth of community care.

Developed jointly by the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (UK) and the Primary Care Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Medicine Society (PCRMM), the examination and associated qualification recognises excellence in MSK care and provides a benchmark of quality for both service commissioners and patients.…

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HMSA local groups update

HMSA local groups are still meeting virtually and this month’s theme is “Hobbies and Achievements”. It’s where the group get to share what they do for hobbies and explain how they overcome any obstacles with physical restrictions. It’s a bit of a ‘show and tell’ meeting and it’s always great to see how talented and inventive the participants are!

Here are the meeting dates for April:

Group

Date

Time

Group email address

Nottingham

11/4 & 24/4

2:00 PM

notts@hypermobility.org

Gateshead

17/4

10:30 AM

gateshead@hypermobility.org

…

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Volunteering at the HMSA

Due to expansion, the Hypermobility Syndromes Association (HMSA) is looking for a number of people in volunteering roles, with everything from administrative support through to fundraising and trustees required.

There are six categories of recruitment:

  • Volunteer fundraiser;
  • Volunteer administrator;
  • Volunteer bookkeeper/Accountant;
  • Trustees;
  • Social Media Support Team;
  • and Transcription volunteers.

You can browse and apply for the roles here.

Survey findings from NRAS

Summary of article published in Rheumatology Advances in Practice on 5 January, 2021

“Disease impact of rheumatoid arthritis in patients not treated with advanced therapies; survey findings from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society”

Authors: Elena Nikiphorou, Hannah Jacklin, Ailsa Bosworth, Clare Jacklin, Patrick Kiely

Background

In 2020, NRAS conducted a survey amongst its members and non-members who had RA with a disease duration more than 2 years, who were not on advanced therapies (i.e. biologic/biosimilar or targeted synthetic DMARDs (JAK inhibitors)), with the aim of revealing the everyday impact of living with RA in people not treated with advanced therapies.…

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Tackling Inequalities Fund Panel member opportunity

Versus Arthritis has teamed up with Sport England to help distribute £250,000 grants from their ‘Tackling Inequalities’ fund on behalf of the Richmond Group of Charities. The purpose of the fund is to reduce the negative impact of coronavirus and the widening of the inequalities in sport and physical activity through increasing availability of exercise opportunities in local communities.

The funding will be targeted to help support people with long-term health conditions, Black, Asian minority ethnic groups and lower socio-economic groups.…

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Guest blog: A New Deal for Prevention

by Sebastian Rees, Researcher, Reform.

At Reform, we’ve long advocated for prevention to be central to any proposals for building a healthier Britain. Tackling the drivers of ill health early reduces demand on health care services further down the line, easing pressures on our already strained system. Far more importantly, averting or delaying the development of preventable conditions allows people to live for longer in better health. If the goal of our health system is to help people build happier, healthier lives, prevention must remain a priority. …

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NOA Practical Pain Management in Orthopaedics webinar

On 7 April 2021 at 1pm, the NOA will host a webinar focused on Practical Pain Management in Orthopaedics. We will be joined by Sue Brown, CEO of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance who will highlight issues from the patient’s perspective. Diarmuid Denney from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will provide tips and tricks of therapy for joint pain. Joint Academy’s CMO and co-founder, Professor Leif Dahlberg and Orthopaedic Surgeon Christian Anker-Hansen will present the evidence base for home management of arthritis.…

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Workforce planning chart for MSK

The launch of NHS England’s Best MSK Health programme gives the population’s musculoskeletal health in England a focus and priority like never before, and much needed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

NHS England waiting times data shows people with serious MSK conditions needing diagnosis and treatment by rheumatology and elective care services are waiting much longer. The same is true for community MSK services and treatment. At the other end of the spectrum, for people who previously had no long-term conditions, the lockdown effect on mental well-being, exercise and weight-gain are significant obstacles to their musculoskeletal health now and into the future.…

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Edgar Stene Prize Winner

Every year, the Edgar Stene Prize is awarded to the person with a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease (RMD) submitting the best essay describing their individual experience of living with their condition. The winner of the Edgar Stene Prize 2021 writing on the topic, “How digital solutions benefit my life as a person with an RMD”, is Ms Stine Bjørk Brøndum Jefsen from Denmark. She will attend the Virtual EULAR Congress 2021. The second place is awarded this year to Ms Sunčica Đorđević from Serbia and third place goes to Ms Penka Velkova from Bulgaria.…

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