Category: Arthritis News

SOMM Diploma and the FCP MSK roadmap

SOMM’s Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine plus a Top-Up Day has been accredited as Stage 1 of the Health Education England (HEE) FCP Roadmap!

This is exciting news for those applying for, or currently in, a role that involves first contact practice in primary care.

SOMM’s one-day Top-Up Day is specifically designed for those who have successfully completed the SOMM Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine (previously SOMM Diploma in Orthopaedic Medicine), and who wish to present evidence, alongside e-learning certificates, of completion of the Stage 1 level 7 ‘taught route’ requirement of the FCP MSK roadmap (HEE,2020).…

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New CCAA Award Badges

The CCAA launched their new award badge scheme in April, which is designed to support families coping with a child/young person with a paediatric rheumatic condition and/or uveitis. Siblings in the family are also eligible and CCAA has even designed a badge with them in mind.

Anyone (family, friends, teachers, healthcare professionals, sports coaches, neighbours etc.) can nominate a child or young person for one of the CCAA’s six collectible award badges via an online form on their website. The recipient will also get a lanyard with their first badge and a certificate.…

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LJMU chronic pain experiences survey

Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) are aiming to understand chronic pain experiences in and out of the UK’s current lockdown. Individuals are invited to participate in the survey.

Title of Project: Locked-down: Differences in Chronic Pain Experience
Researcher: Dr David Moore and Bethany Donaghy, School of Psychology

The study will take 20 minutes to complete and will involve completing a set of questionnaires online via outlets such as computers or mobile phones. There will also be the option to participate in a second phase of the study.…

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Tackling Inequalities fund update

Versus Arthritis has been successful in accessing £250,000 top-up funding from Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund. This fund will be made available to organisations in England to help support people with long-term health conditions to get active.

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.…

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State of health and care: The NHS Long Term Plan after COVID-19

State of Health reportState of health and care: The NHS Long Term Plan after COVID-19

A new report from IPPR shows the extent to which the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted progress on the NHS Long Term Plan. The report looks at cancer, mental illness, cardiovascular disease and multiple long term conditions, but the findings are equally relevant to MSK services.

The report argues that COVID-19 should not become an excuse for low ambition, and that world-class healthcare must remain the overall goal. To achieve this, the report recommends a package of six ambitious changes designed to do three things:

  • Ensure the pandemic does not cause lasting damage to healthcare services for future generations.
…

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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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The College becomes the Royal College of Podiatry

The College of Podiatry has been renamed as the Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod) after being granted permission to use the title by Her Majesty The Queen.

The RCPod is the professional body for podiatry and represents 10,000 members in the United Kingdom and internationally. With its members, the RCPod campaigns to raise awareness that good lower-limb health is essential, and that podiatry is a key element of preventative medicine in the wider health economy. Permission to use the royal title is granted by The Queen, who acts on advice provided to her by her ministers.…

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#BestMSKHealth programme launch

NHS England has launched a new programme with the aim of sustaining the delivery of evidence-informed, personalised, high-quality integrated healthcare of value to all. This new initiative, part of the Pathways for Better Health Programme, significantly increases the resource to support MSK service delivery.

The programme covers the breadth of MSK including orthopaedics, rheumatology and pain, spanning primary secondary and community services. You can watch the launch event here.

The programme has ten workstreams, each led by a relevant clinical specialist:

  • Diagnostics
  • Orthopaedics
  • Rheumatology
  • Primary and Community MSK Provision
  • Spinal Services
  • Falls, Fragility Fractures and Osteoporosis
  • Data, Validation and Coding
  • Communications and Developing MSK Networks
  • Supporting those with Long Term MSK Conditions
  • Outpatients

There is the intention to ensure that the programme is coproduced involving the range of stakeholders including people with lived experience and patient organisations.…

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New video: How to self-examine for tender and swollen joints in rheumatoid arthritis

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the delivery of healthcare services, creating challenges for healthcare professionals and people living with musculoskeletal conditions. Patients are increasingly required to monitor their own disease activity and report on their condition during remote or virtual consultations.

To address this, the Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis has been working on the REmote MOnitoring of Rheumatoid Arthritis (REMORA) study. REMORA is a smartphone app study that encourages people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to monitor and record their daily symptoms.…

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