Category: Arthritis News

Opportunity to be involved in MSK impact research

Research project: The Psychological, Social, and Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Conditions

Researchers in the Department of Behavioural Science and Health at University College London are looking to set up an advisory group of people with lived experience of musculoskeletal conditions, for a project exploring the challenges facing people with these conditions, such as family, ability to work, and quality of life. The advisory group will help the research team refine research questions and interpret findings. The commitment involves attending 5-6 online meetings (1-2 hours each) over the course of the two-year project, with a small amount of reading and preparation for each meeting.…

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Pain consultations during the pandemic

Pain Concern is pleased to announce that the new edition of the Airing Pain podcast will be released on 22/02/2023:

Airing Pain #134 Pain Consultations during the COVID-19 Pandemic – Lessons Learnt.

Watch the trailer.

This edition of Airing Pain examines how COVID-19 has impacted on the relationship between patient and healthcare professional. 

In the two or so years of living with COVID-19, the face-to-face relationship between doctors and patients was one of the first casualties. With restrictions relaxed, have we returned to the status quo, or has what was developed at breakneck speed led to new working practices?  …

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ESCAPE-pain part of framework to reduce community MSK waits

In January 2023, NHS England published “an improvement framework to reduce community musculoskeletal waits while delivering best outcomes and experience”.

Integrated high quality community musculoskeletal (MSK) services are integral to a productive, high-performing healthcare system supporting the management of MSK conditions. Most people with MSK conditions can be diagnosed and well managed in the community through programmes like ESCAPE-pain.

A smaller number require timely referral to secondary care orthopaedic, rheumatology, spinal or pain management services to enable best outcomes.

Most community MSK services have a triage function to support diagnosis and optimise referrals, and/or a therapies function to rehabilitate those who have sustained an injury or are recovering from surgery, as well as to help people best manage long-term MSK conditions.…

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Versus Arthritis Let’s Move for Surgery

Versus Arthritis has launched their brand new Let’s Move for Surgery physical activity resources for people with arthritis waiting for or recovering from joint replacement surgery. The Surgery Toolkit includes a series of tailor-made, follow-along exercise videos for hip, shoulder and knee, as well as full body workouts to help maintain overall fitness. It also features personal stories and advice from those living with arthritis who have been through or are awaiting joint replacement surgery, as well as tips on keeping active from a physiotherapist.…

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Research opportunities with ORUK

ORUK logoOrthopaedic Research UK aims to fill the most important gaps in research funding in bone, joint and muscle well-being. They fund innovative research projects in the UK that expand knowledge, improve patient outcomes and pioneer new forms of diagnosis and treatment. 

To find out more about ORUK’s latest joint funding opportunities for the MSK community please visit the Joint Partnership Funds page on the oruk.org website.

Arthritis Action launches podcast for people living with arthritis

Arthritis Action has launched the first series of its Arthritis Action podcast. The podcast covers a wide range of topics to help people living with arthritis, and those caring for them. In each episode, we will talk to members of the charity, various experts and healthcare professionals.

Each episode lasts thirty minutes, with new episodes released every two weeks.  The episodes already available cover the subjects of: work and arthritis, planning and pacing, exercise and activity, communication, and everyday life with arthritis. …

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NOA Virtual Wards concept webinar

webinar speakersWebinar: Are Virtual Wards Applicable to Elective Orthopaedic Surgery?
Wednesday 18 January 2023, 1:00pm – 2:15pm

The next National Orthopaedic Alliance webinar will look at the virtual ward concept. Virtual wards (“hospital at home”) is an established pathway for many medical conditions in respiratory and cardiac medicine and also to a lesser extent in surgery. The Government is encouraging engagement and setting targets for Integrated Care Systems (ICS’s) to adopt these pathways in an effort to reduce pressure on hospital beds.…

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Will we be brave enough?

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 17 November, ARMA wrote to the Chancellor to outline the impact of the cost of living crisis on people with MSK conditions and the importance of the NHS for growth in the economy. I don’t think I was alone in fearing that the statement would see cuts in funding for the NHS and social care. Thankfully those fears were unfounded, although many feel that the funding announced was not enough.

We asked three things in the letter:

  • That cost of living support be targeted at those who need it most, including those with health conditions where keeping warm is important.
…

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Failings in axial SpA care provision

MP led inquiry reveals continued failings in the provision of axial SpA care in England.

Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) are still receiving a poor standard of care and being systematically let down by the health care system, despite an investigation that called for urgent improvements in 2020, according to a new MP led national inquiry.

The findings from the inquiry, led by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Axial Spondyloarthritis (APPG), are based on responses from 85 NHS Trusts and 36 Integrated Care Boards to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.…

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