Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance
Influencing policy and care together for best lifelong musculoskeletal health
BASRaT has welcomed the news that the PSA is introducing a single set of Regulation Standards to apply to both Accredited Registers and Statutory Regulators. This aligns the standards for BASRaT with regulators including the GMC and HCPC.
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) is the UK’s independent regulatory oversight body. Working with the PSA, BASRaT regulates and guides Sport Rehabilitators on their role and responsibilities ensuring professional competency and development.
Arthritis UK Urges ICBs to Scrap BMI Threshold Policies Used to Ration SurgeriesAlmost a fifth of ICBs in England are rationing joint replacement surgery based on a person’s BMI, an approach that contradicts NICE guidance for the diagnosis and management of osteoarthritis.
These policies vary across England, creating a postcode lottery where patients may be denied access to life-changing treatment based on where they live rather than clinical need. Many patients are also required to lose weight before surgery but are not given access to the weight management services needed to do so.…
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NHS England Policy Paper
Published 17 March 2026
We welcome the new Neighbourhood Health Framework because it moves neighbourhood health in the right direction.
That is close to ARMA’s vision of putting the NHS in the context of the places and communities it serves, not treating health as something created by services alone.…
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The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is marking a major milestone in 2026—its 25th anniversary—by launching the Healthcare Champions Awards, a nationwide initiative celebrating excellence across the rheumatology community.
The awards highlight the dedication, innovation and compassion shown by professionals who support the UK’s 500,000 people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Patients and families are invited to nominate rheumatologists, nurses, therapists, pharmacists or entire teams who have made a meaningful difference in their care.
To encourage participation, NRAS has released a downloadable poster featuring a QR code that allows patients to submit nominations directly from their smartphones while waiting for appointments.…
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The Institute of Osteopathy has been leading on the development of a pre-registration degree apprenticeship standard for Osteopathy.
The funding band for the apprenticeship standard has now been approved by the Secretary of State. The standard itself was officially published on the Skills England website on 18 February 2026.
The Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine (SOMM) is pleased to share an exciting update ahead of the new academic year.
Since its development in 2000 in partnership with Middlesex University, the MSc in Musculoskeletal Medicine has continued to evolve. In 2018, the programme moved to Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh, where it successfully ran until August 2024.
SOMM is delighted to announce that QMU now offers a part‑time, fully online MSc / PgDip Advancing Practice in Musculoskeletal Medicine.
Health professionals who have completed SOMM’s Foundation in Musculoskeletal Medicine module (SOMM Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine) within the last five years, worth 60 master’s‑level credits, are eligible to apply.…
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The RCC President-Elect, Stuart Smellie and Chief Executive, Susie Isaacson were delighted to be invited to share the formal celebrations as Professor Christina Cunliffe OBE, Principal of McTimoney College of Chiropractic was awarded her Order of the British Empire (OBE) from the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle.
This was a proud moment to celebrate all of Christina’s many achievements and she was joined by family, friends, colleagues, patients and members of the chiropractic community. We were delighted to share this momentous occasion to celebrate Christina’s personal ambition and all that she represents for the profession as a whole.…
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Ever wondered what happens to your blood when you give it for research?
Children and young people living with paediatric rheumatology conditions told us they wanted to know more about what happens to blood samples donated for research. CCAA – Kids With Arthritis worked with a young person living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and the team at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health to show step-by-step how a blood sample is handled and stored in the laboratories.
By sharing this video, CCAA hopes to help patients and their families feel more informed about what happens when they donate blood samples for research.…
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Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) has announced a £100,000 investment in VerIQ Limited, a UK-based MedTech clinical research accelerator, through a convertible loan agreement. The investment will help advance VerIQ’s mission to transform how medical device and health technology research is delivered; ensuring that exciting new innovations reach our patients faster, with uncompromising scientific integrity.
This strategic partnership reinforces ORUK’s commitment to improve musculoskeletal health and patient outcomes. The funding will enable VerIQ to expand its nationwide network of orthopaedic and MedTech clinical research sites, focusing initially on improved treatment for improved musculoskeletal health.…
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Pain Alliance Europe is pleased to share an invitation to take part in the QSPainRelief-patientPREF study, an important initiative seeking to better understand the real-life experiences and preferences of people living with chronic pain, with the aim of contributing to improved future treatment options.
Participation in the questionnaire is entirely voluntary, all data are fully anonymised, and once the questionnaire is completed and analysed, the results will be shared with participating patients in an accessible and transparent way.
In this first questionnaire, you will be asked to:
The questionnaire can be found here.…
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