National Osteoporosis Society’s Clinical Update 2017

TREATMENT OF OSTEOPOROSIS – ‘When to start, when to stop and when to change?’
30th November 2017, NEC Birmingham

With a brand new and innovative format this event promises to provide multidisciplinary clinicians in England with the opportunity to discuss the treatment and management of osteoporosis. The Clinical Update will bring a series of interactive clinical case discussions to you, presented as part of an expert discussion panel. You can expect to hear and participate in lively debate around identifying the high-risk patient, treatment options for the atypical patient and considerations for duration of treatment.…

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New Work Survey by NRAS

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is running a new Work Survey and is pleased to be collaborating with the Centre for Musculoskeletal Research at the University of Manchester.

The Work Survey will investigate the experiences of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Adult Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), any impact it has had on your ability to work and how it affects you in the workplace.

The research comes 10 years after the publication of the ‘I Want to Work’ report and will enable NRAS to draw comparisons about any progress achieved over the last decade in relation to work, health and disability.…

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BSR updates key gout management guideline

On the 26th May 2017, the British Society for Rheumatology released an important update to their most ‘in demand’ clinical guideline, on the Management of Gout. Gout is the most searched for term on the BSR website and it’s is a particularly painful form of arthritis which is becoming more common, yet continues to be poorly managed. 

This latest Guideline is for all UK doctors and allied health professionals in primary and secondary care who look after and treat patients with the condition.…

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The Fight Against Chronic Pain

Guest Blog by Neil Betteridge, co-chair, Chronic Pain Policy Coalition (CPPC)

As a former Chair of ARMA, it’s a great pleasure to be invited to write a piece for this month’s newsletter. Indeed, looking back to my seven years on the board, it is quite something to recall that the organisation entered the 21st century still called BLAR: the British League Against Rheumatism.

Apart from the name, much has changed in the world of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases since then, most of it for the better in my view.…

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Portsmouth patient conferences

Patient Conferences

Did you miss getting to the Rheumatology Conferences in 2016?

  • Love Your Bones, June 2016
  • Day to Day Living with Arthritis, September 2016

If yes, don’t worry. We are pleased to say that some of the presentations from both events are now available on the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust You Tube page.

 

Patient Advice and Information Line

Did you know that there are two options for the Patient Advice and Information line?

Email: Rheumatology.pail@porthosp.nhs.uk
and
Telephone: 02392286935

Please ensure that you leave the correct information:
Full Name
Date of Birth
Hospital Number
Brief information about what your call/email is about

Colin Beevor – Matron and Service Manager
Department of Rheumatology
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Cosham, PO6 3LY
02392286142

PortsHosp – Dads and Mums with Arthritis Summer update

Portsmouth ARMA Network

DaM It Arthritis- Dads and Mums with Arthritis

Calling all Dads and Mums living with Arthritis and Connective Tissue diseases!
What do you need from a Rheumatology Service?

As we re-launch our “DaM it Arthritis” project, we would like to hear from you about what you need from local Rheumatology Services. We appreciate that having arthritis and connective tissue diseases can have an impact on personal, family and work-life balance and we are seeking your opinion on other aspects of support that you require from the Department of Rheumatology.…

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CEO update June 2017

It’s been another productive month here at ARMA as I pass the three months in post milestone. With such a range of different activities there is never a dull moment. I have just attended my first ARMA Policy and Communications meeting. I enjoyed the lively discussions about joint messages on the importance of self-management and developing a co-ordinated social media plan for Bone and Joint Week in October. There is a lot of potential to support each other to have a bigger impact during the week.…

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Belimumab (Benlysta) approved for restricted use in NHS Scotland

On Monday 8th May 2017 the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) published new advice accepting the restricted use of belimumab (Benlysta) by NHS Scotland for lupus patients. This advice was published following a re-submission with evidence supplied by GlaxoSmithKline (the producers of Benlysta) and LUPUS UK on behalf of patients.

 

Belimumab is the first drug approved to treat lupus in more than 50 years and is the first drug developed specifically for lupus since the disease was discovered. It is approved for adults with active, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) who are receiving other lupus medicines.…

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Lupus Knows No Boundaries e-Report published by World Lupus Federation

On World Lupus Day (May 10th) the “Lupus Knows No Boundaries e-Report,” which has been co-created by the World Lupus Federation and Glaxosmithkline (GSK), was published.

The report brings together first-hand experiences of people with lupus, their advocates and those who treat them. It tells the real story of lupus, highlighting the ongoing physical and emotional needs of those who are affected by this incurable disease.

The report can be downloaded from the LUPUS UK website at  www.lupusuk.org.uk/world-lupus-day-report/.…

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FSEM (UK) Releases MSK Key Messages

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) UK has published a set of key messages to guide associated organisations and colleges through the specialty of Sport and Exercise Medicine’s work and relevance to MSK Medicine.

The key points cover the training and skills that SEM physicians have in MSK Medicine; the significance and relevance of this to the NHS; and links to the examples of hospital and community-based SEM-led MSK clinics, which deliver both clinical efficiencies and cost savings.

Read the FSEM’s key messages on MSK Medicine here, on their website.…

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