Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance
Influencing policy and care together for best lifelong musculoskeletal health
by Andrew Bennett, National Clinical Director for Musculoskeletal Conditions NHS England and NHS Improvement
It’s been a year since I was fortunate to attend the annual ARMA lecture at the canal museum in London and enjoyed a fantastic talk by Brendan Stubbs about physical activity and mental health. New to the role of National Clinical Director for MSK, this was the first time I met Sue Brown the CEO of ARMA, as well as number of other colleagues from the MSK world.…
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The First Contact Practitioner Osteopath pilot, funded by the Osteopathic Foundation, has published its results with excellent implications for the future of osteopaths in the FCP role.
The report indicates results that demonstrate osteopaths have the skills to make a positive impact in these roles.
Another recent report by the Institute of Osteopathy is Tackling the workforce challenges in MSK care which explores the role of osteopaths as Allied Health Professionals within the NHS.…
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The information in this briefing is based on the collated experiences of many of those shielding and information from patient helplines about the enquiries they were receiving earlier this year. For more information about the experiences of people with MSK conditions during lockdown, please see the report ‘MSK Lived Experience Themes of What Matters.’
Earlier this year, over 2 million people including some with musculoskeletal conditions, received a letter advising them to “shield” by remaining in their homes for 12 weeks.…
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NRAS has a new video on the benefits of the Right Start Service for patients newly or recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.New2RA Right Start is a service launched by the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) at the BSR 2019 congress and to which many rheumatology services are referring their patients. Right Start supports people newly diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis to understand their diagnosis and how it is likely to affect them. Getting the right, supportive start can help people to make adjustments to their behaviour, lifestyle and health beliefs and understand why self-management is essential, and learn how to make those important first steps to managing their disease effectively.…
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by Andrew Coutts. BSc Hons, MSc, FCPodS, Specialist Registrar in Podiatric Surgery, Derbyshire Community Health Service NHS Foundation Trust
One of the most common questions I get asked by patients, colleagues and friends is – ‘how do I get rid of my heel pain?’ I see many patients with plantar fasciitis symptoms, insertional Achilles tendonosis and other causes of heel pain, such as retrocalcaneal bursitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, fat pad atrophy and Sever’s Disease, however every year I see an increase in referrals specifically around February, March and April time [1].…
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BOA statement on preserving elective operating wherever possible in second wave (15 Oct 2020).
BOA statement about orthopaedic ring-fenced beds (released 19 Oct 2020).
BOA Annual Congress 2021 – Save the Date!
Taking place 21-24 September 2021, the BOA Annual Congress programme will be created around the theme of ‘Tackling Infection’, with four days of lectures including three days of exhibition being held for the first time at P&J Live, The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA). Further information regarding abstracts, programme, speakers, location and more will be on the BOA website in the upcoming months.…
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, 42% of people living with arthritis reported that their pain has increased [1] according to a survey by UK Charity Arthritis Action looking at the effects of COVID-19 and lockdown on the daily lives of people with arthritis. Considering there are over 10 million people living with some form of arthritis in the UK [i] this would equate to over 4 million people experiencing increased arthritis pain during the ongoing pandemic.…
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This year’s Psoriasis Awareness Week 2020 runs from Thursday 29 October (World Psoriasis Day) to Wednesday 4 November.
This year, the theme will be ‘types of psoriasis’, based around answering some of the ‘unknown knowns’ that came out of the recent Psoriasis Priority Setting Partnership. Over the course of the week, the Psoriasis Association will focus on a different type of psoriasis each day, chosen from those which are most commonly asked about on the helpline. On Wednesday 4 November, the spotlight will be on Psoriatic Arthritis and nails.…
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The role of osteopaths as AHPs in the NHSAn independent panel of leading healthcare professionals, chaired by Professor Adrian Newland CBE, has authored a report including its findings on the role of osteopaths as Allied Health Professionals within the NHS, and their potential to provide much needed additional capacity to the delivery of NHS MSK services to improve patient care.
The report was launched at a virtual event with NHS commissioners, at which Sue Brown, CEO of ARMA, joined as part of the panel.…
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Health Education England has published First Contact Practitioners and Advanced Practitioners in Primary Care: (Musculoskeletal) A Roadmap to Practice. The document provides a clear educational pathway from undergraduate to advanced practice for clinicians pursuing a career in primary care.
As MSK first contact practitioners (FCPs) move into primary care, Health Education England is funding the development of supervisors and working in partnership with leading clinical organisations to build capacity.
There is a drop-down list on the HEE website and a link to register for these courses including from ARMA members the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and the Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine.
