Over the last few months ARMA has been working with members on a new strategy, setting out more clearly what we work on and how we work in collaboration with our members. We will work in those areas where collaboration will have bigger impact than any single organization working alone. Through greater clarity and focus we expect to achieve greater impact. If you are reading this and thinking that your professional body or patient organisation isn’t a member but really should be part of this, encourage them to join.…
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Category: Health Policy
Attend the annual ARMA lecture on physical activity
Taking place on Wednesday 21 November 2018 at 6pm in London.
Hear and debate three perspectives on physical activity at the Annual ARMA Lecture, this year in partnership with Versus Arthritis. Three outstanding speakers, Nick Pearson, CEO parkrun, Michael Brennan, Physical Activity Programme Manager, Public Health England and Claire Harris, Physiotherapist speak to the theme: More people, more active, more often: three perspectives on physical activity and musculoskeletal health
Physical activity is good for promoting musculoskeletal health and helps alleviate the symptoms of musculoskeletal conditions.…
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Public Health England – Case study and report on lessons learnt
A report by Public Health England has been published in the World Health Organization’s European journal, Public Health Panorama.
“Developing partnerships and a whole-system approach for the prevention of musculoskeletal conditions in England”
Abstract: This case study reviews the experience of PHE in developing and implementing a public health approach to the prevention of and early intervention in MSK conditions. We reflect on key elements of the approach, and the essential role of galvanizing and supporting partnerships, as well as achievements and lessons learnt so far.…
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The restrictions on access to care – the impact of waiting for surgery
The BOA is nearing the end of our Centennial year and reflecting on 100 years of developments in orthopaedic surgery. While innovation in surgical techniques has dramatically improved patient care, the changing nature of healthcare delivery systems, rationing and access to care mean that many patients are still struggling with the day-to-day impact of MSK conditions.
During our Congress last week we heard powerful stories from patients on the impact of waiting for surgery. From a patient waiting for carpal tunnel release who was struggling to deal with basic daily tasks such as handling money, preparing food or getting dressed to another describing his wait for knee surgery, in huge amounts of pain with increasingly reduced mobility impacting on overall fitness and the ability to enjoy life.…
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Versus Arthritis is Working It Out at the conferences
Versus Arthritis is currently promoting their new report, “Working It Out” on the Access to Work programme at the political party conferences. At the time of writing the team have attended Liberal Democrat and Labour, and are preparing for Conservative and SNP conferences.
The report is based on a survey of almost 1,600 people with arthritis and related conditions across the UK, which asked how their working life has been affected by their health condition, and their awareness of Access to Work and employer support.…
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MSK – Not a challenge anyone can solve alone
I have just returned from the British Orthopaedic Association centenary congress, where ARMA had a session on integrated pathways for orthopaedics. One thing that struck me about the event was the recognition of the importance of multi-disciplinary working. There were significant numbers of delegates who were not orthopaedic surgeons, particularly physiotherapists. A session I attended on hip fracture covered the crucial role of physios in rehabilitation.
It is easy to understand how any professional can become focused on their part of the pathway, delivering the surgery or the rehab to a high standard.…
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Call for evidence: PHE and NGC review treatment dependence, discontinuation and withdrawal
Public Health England has commissioned the National Guideline Centre (NGC) to produce an evidence review of the literature on dependence, short term discontinuation and longer term withdrawal symptom from prescribed medicines, and their prevention and treatment.
The NGC is inviting stakeholders to submit research data or reports on two key areas to inform the review:
A) Collations of patients’ experi ences of the harms caused by prescribed medicines and ability to access and engage in treatment specifically relating to dependence, short term discontinuation or longer term withdrawal symptoms from the following prescribed medicines: opioids for chronic pain (excluding end of life /palliative care/cancer pain), benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, gabapentin and pregabalin (excluding epilepsy treatment), and antidepressants.…
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Global Spine Care Initiative papers
T
he Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health wishes to bring to your attention a series of papers published in a supplement of the European Spine Journal this month. They have been written by the Global Spine Care Initiative (GSCI), a sub group of World Spine Care, which in turn is a project of GMUSC.
This was a 4-year initiative, involving numerous individuals forming a GSCI Secretariat as well as a large delphi group that contributed to different papers in this 16 paper series.…
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Adopting the holistic approach
Guest blog by Professor Anthony Woolf, Chair, ARMA
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions have a huge negative impact on the health of the population. People with MSK problems making a first approach to health services can find it difficult to access the right support and some experience delays in getting the correct diagnosis and management, which can result in prolonged impact such as ongoing pain and work loss.
Launched a few weeks ago, the Musculoskeletal core capabilities framework for first point of contact practitioners has been developed in partnership by the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA), NHS England, Skills for Health, Public Health England and Health Education England to ensure that people with MSK problems get what they have expressed they want – rapid access to diagnosis and early management advice, being fully involved in their care through shared decision-making and self-management. …
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Consultation on proposals to amend the ABPI Code and the PMCPA Constitution and Procedure
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has been working on changes to the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry and the PMCPA Constitution and Procedure.
The proposed changes follow work done by a group chaired by Hugo Fry, Sanofi UK Country Chair and General Manager Sanofi Pasteur, established by the ABPI Board, as well as feedback from member companies, patient organisations and others.
The requirements of the ABPI Code of Practice and its administration by the PMCPA demonstrate the commitment of the pharmaceutical industry to benefiting patients by operating in a professional, ethical and transparent manner. …
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