Category: Arthritis News

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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Airing Pain podcast episode: mental defeat

Pain Concern has announced their new podcast episode: Warwick Study of Mental Defeat in Chronic Pain.

Airing Pain #134 description:
What is mental defeat and does it have an impact on the experiences of those living with pain?

In this edition of Airing Pain, Paul Evans interviews the team at the Warwick Study of Mental Defeat in Chronic Pain (WITHIN Project) and research participants, as well as taking part in the study as a participant himself. The study, which runs until May 2023, is investigating how mental defeat can influence pain sensation, sleep patterns, social activity, physical activity and the general health of individuals who have chronic pain.…

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HEE quick guide on Osteopathy published

Health Education England and the Institute of Osteopathy have published a quick guide to support the understanding of the value that osteopaths can bring to productive NHS services.

The guide, which looks to facilitate the best use of the multi-professional workforce, is aimed at clinical leads, workforce leads, operational managers and any senior leaders who are involved in workforce development.

Read the report here.

NASS medication guidance during pregnancy

NASS hosting Facebook Live with BSR on latest medication guidance during pregnancy and breastfeeding 

The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) will be live on the NASS Facebook page at 1pm, 15 December 2022 to explain the latest guidance on medication for inflammatory arthritis when you’re trying for a baby, pregnant or breastfeeding. The video will stay on the Facebook page and be uploaded to the NASS website afterwards.

Watch the video here on Facebook from 15 December.

Boost Your Immunity vaccinations campaign

This autumn/winter, flu vaccination and COVID-19 boosters will be critical to maximising uptake of both vaccines amongst eligible groups.

An integrated campaign will encourage uptake by signalling the importance of both vaccines and informing the public about the threat of both viruses circulating this winter, to overcome barriers and remind people of the benefits of vaccines.

Eligible cohorts for the COVID-19 autumn booster vaccine:

  • Pregnant women
  • People 50 years old and over
  • People aged 5-50 in groups at increased risk
  • Residents in care homes
  • Health and social care workers

Eligible cohorts for the free flu vaccine:

  • all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2022
  • all primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6) and some secondary school aged children
  • those aged 6 months of age upwards in a clinical risk group
  • pregnant women
  • those aged 50 years and over
  • those in long-stay residential care homes
  • carers in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or who are the main carer of an older or disabled person who may be at risk if the carer gets sick
  • those that live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone living with HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)

nhs.uk/wintervaccinations