Arthritis News | ARMA

HMSA e-news – Giving GPs the Tools campaign

The January edition of The Hypermobility Syndromes Association e-news is available here.

The HMSA will continue raising funds for their ‘Giving GPs the Tools’ campaign (outlined in the December ARMA newsletter) until 31st May 2018. The campaign, which will help people with heritable disorders of the connective tissue, and other hypermobility related health problems access appropriate care more easily, is allowing the HMSA to develop new information and a resources guide. The funds will also assist with the continuing development of professional training in the conditions we support.…

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EULAR Recommendations for imaging in large vessel vasculitis

The European League Against Rheumatism, EULAR, has published a set of recommendations, which look at the use of imaging modalities in primary large vessel vasculitis, including giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis.

The recommendations are intended to advise physicians on the use of imaging modalities (including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, computed tomography, CT, and positron emission tomography, PET) when making a clinical diagnosis of large vessel vasculitis (LVV), and when to apply imaging for monitoring of disease activity and damage.…

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MSK Medicine explained in new website

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK has launched a new website including information highlighting what Musculoskeletal (MSK) Medicine is to the public and the healthcare community. There is now a dedicated MSK webpage outlining ‘who sees musculoskeletal medicine doctors’ emphasising that Sport and Exercise Medicine specialists, with MSK skills, treat a wide range of patients from those with a common MSK condition to elite athletes. It also puts MSK Medicine in the context of the NHS and Exercise Medicine, with reference to working examples of NHS MSK services.…

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UK Gout Society at the Welsh Assembly

On 28 November 2017, the UK Gout Society joined forces with Welsh Assembly Members, doctors and other charities to help raise awareness of gout in Wales.

Speaking at the Welsh Assembly, Rhun ap Iorwerth AM, the Plaid Cymru Health Spokesperson who hosted the event, said: “The impact of musculoskeletal conditions in Wales is huge and we have a big job to limit that impact. Working together to raise awareness of gout must play a part. We know that gout is often seriously undertreated and greatly misunderstood.”…

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Portsmouth ARMA spring newsletter and Easter events

The spring edition of the Portsmouth Hospitals’ Department of Rheumatology newsletter is out.

It contains dates and details of a number of upcoming events, groups and meetings, including:

Funky Knit Day, a knitting event to raise awareness of Raynauds, 07 Feb 2018 – see the poster
Portsmouth Cream Tea & Light Music event, 4 March 2018 – see the poster
Portsmouth Easter Tea Dance, 24 March 2018 – see the poster

For more, open and save the spring newsletter (in PDF) here.

RCN Rheumatology18 is next week

The Royal College of Nursing is putting the final preparations in place for the RCN Rheumatology Nursing workshop 2018.

12 Jan 2018
from 11:00 – 15:00

This event will enable specialist nurses to continue to deliver excellent care, follow best practice and inspire colleagues despite continued NHS barriers and difficulties.

The workshop is based on the results of a forum survey which asked you to identify issues relating to the management of rheumatological disease, interventions, treatment and support. The aim is to address these issues as well as develop the unmet need for clinical leadership skills and personal and professional resilience.…

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Pharmacists can play a key role in an integrated patient care team

Guest blog by Robbie Turner, Director of England, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

With people living longer lives, the number living with multiple long-term conditions is rising, leading to billions of pounds in additional health and social care costs. This will be a scenario very familiar to the members of ARMA.

Treatment and support for the growing number of people with long term conditions such as arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions is placing significant demands on the NHS and other public services. Around £15 billion was spent on medicines in 2015/16, which are the most common solution chosen to help manage symptoms for people with long term conditions. …

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BASEM Spring Conference 2018

Get Dynamic: Hormones, Health and Human Performance

What are the key Endocrine and Metabolic considerations for elite athletes to reluctant exercisers?

Discussion, led by experienced clinicians and researchers will cover:

Key role of Sports Endocrinology in health and performance
Effects of exercise modalities on body composition and bone health
Machine learning in interpreting biochemical & metabolic patterns
Endocrine & metabolic markers in assessing health & training status
Gut metabolism in supporting health and performance
Exercise as crucial lifestyle factor in pre-existing metabolic dysfunction

22 March 2018
The Keepmoat Stadium
Doncaster

See more details, including the programme and list of speakers at:
http://www.basem.co.uk/education/basem-spring-conference-2018/…

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BASEM Foundation Skills Course 2018

A three and a half day residential course aimed at providing a thorough grounding in areas that make up Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM).

10 – 13 June 2018
Venue: Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire

The course will cover aspects of both sports medicine and science in health, disease and following acute and chronic injury.
The course will be as practical/hands on as possible and lectures will include: Anatomy, pathologies and practical examinations of the foot, ankle, knee, shoulder & spine:

Exercise physiology
Nutrition in sport
Sport and doping
Practical rehab
Event Medicine

For the draft programme, course fees and registration, please visit this link on the BASEM website.

Engagement and involvement in tough NHS decisions

National Voices has written an open letter to the Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, expressing concern that decisions to ration treatments and services will be made behind closed doors, with people not listened to.

The Autumn Budget 2017 did not deliver the funding increases that health and social care need. In subsequent statements, a number of NHS leaders have suggested the need for tough decisions about what can be afforded by – and expected of – the NHS.…

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