Category: Arthritis News

National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit first report

The National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA) collects information on all new patients over the age of sixteen seen in specialist rheumatology departments with suspected inflammatory arthritis in England and Wales. The first report was published in October. The audit assesses seven key metrics of care provided for people with new symptoms of arthritis attending rheumatology services for the first time and makes recommendations for services, educators and commissioners.

Some of the key findings include:

  • Secondary care units take an average of 28 days to achieve first assessment, compared to a target of three weeks.
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Physical activity e-learning programme

Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare (HEE e-LfH) has worked with Public Health England and Sport England to launch a new physical activity e-learning programme to help healthcare professionals to champion physical activity with patients.

The e-learning programme, which is aimed at GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals, will familiarise the learner with the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity guidelines.

This e-learning course prepares GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals to champion the benefits of physical activity with their patients and, in doing so, help prevent and manage a range of common physical and mental health conditions.…

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Measuring patient outcomes using PROMs

The Institute of Osteopathy has published a case study into the use of Patient Reported Outcome Measurement (PROMs) to measure patient outcomes after osteopathic care.

There is a need for osteopaths to collect robust outcome data from their patients about the care provided, to allow reflection and promote good patient management. Patient data will help the osteopathic profession and individual osteopaths understand more about the response patients have to treatment and ultimately improve patient care.

Read the PROMs impact report here.…

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HMSA website relaunch

The new and improved hypermobility.org

The new HMSA website is something a lot of people have been working on in the background for quite some time, a process complicated by the collapse of the old site at the worst possible moment. TeamHMSA is bursting at the seams with excitement, not least because of some of the new functionality the site has, including:

  • A brand new dedicated Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) section. 
  • Simple content submission – if you love writing about your experiences/blogging, you will be able to send content directly to us
  • Fundraisers can set up their own pages/events, and anyone can donate directly.
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New chair-based exercises for people with arthritis

Arthritis Action has launched a new webpage featuring arthritis-friendly exercises using animated images (GIFs). These chair-based strength and conditioning exercises were developed in partnership with wellbeing organisation Oomph!,  mobilising different parts of the body.

The exercises were designed with the aim to recondition and build mobility and confidence in people who have not been keeping active. The can be viewed on the Arthritis Action website.

Pain and physical activity: complex issues need collaborative solutions

CEO update by Sue Brown

One of the things I love about my job is the variety of things I get involved in. The wide scope of what is covered by musculoskeletal health and the variety of ARMA members, partners and stakeholders means no two days are ever the same.  August has been a month to prepare for the exciting variety of activity we have planned including our annual lecture, a roundtable on pain, an event on physical activity and more webinars.…

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We are undefeatable campaign

A new campaign, We are Undefeatable, launched on 2 September from Sport England and associated partners including Versus Arthritis.

The campaign aims to help people with health conditions find ways to get active. With a long term condition you are two times more likely to be inactive. Physical activity plays a powerful role, it can help manage 20 or more conditions and reduce the risk of many health conditions by up to 40%.

Sport England are challenging the existing narrative and working with partners to challenge the status quo.…

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Putting musculoskeletal conditions in the NHS health check at 40?

Following initial policy direction in the Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s green paper in July, on Friday 16 August the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock announced an evidence-based review into the NHS Health Check service. Alongside suggestions that checks are personalised in future, the review will consider ‘increasing the range of advice the checks can offer – for example, prevention of musculoskeletal problems’. This is a brilliant opportunity to make sure that people are routinely asked about the health of their muscles, bones and joints at 40 years of age, and are provided with advice to support their musculoskeletal health.…

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Alisa Bosworth steps down as CEO from NRAS

Charity Founder, Ailsa Bosworth MBE steps down after 18 years as CEO of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society to take on a new role as National Patient Champion for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) announced that Ailsa Bosworth MBE, the charity’s Founder and CEO stepped down as CEO at the organisation’s AGM on 26 June and took on a new role as National Patient Champion. Clare Jacklin, who worked with Ailsa Bosworth for the last 12 years, took over as CEO from 27 June 2019.…

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