Category: Patients

The importance of supported self-management

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is encouraging people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to take an active role in managing their condition through its latest article Supported Self-Management Matters. Written by NRAS Founder and National Patient Champion Ailsa Bosworth MBE, the article explores how understanding and managing both the physical and emotional impact of RA can improve long-term health outcomes.

Highlighting the growing importance of self-management as NHS services face increasing pressures and more patients move to Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) pathways, it encourages people with RA to monitor symptoms, stay informed about their condition, engage with educational resources, and seek support when needed.…

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Have you attended A&E seeking treatment for a flare up of your persistent pain?

UCL flyerA new study at the University College London is researching the experiences of people attending A&E for help with their persistent pain.

Participation involves online interviews (30-45 minutes) discussing your experiences and pain treatment. 

The study runs until the end of August 2026. If you are interested or want more information, email the researcher Eshita Shah [email protected] at the Faculty of Population Health Sciences, UCL. 

CAT engages communities across Cornwall

NT walk posterCornwall Arthritis Trust has been working hard to engage with communities across Cornwall, creating opportunities for people living with arthritis or other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions to connect with others through movement, wellbeing activities, and creativity.

Accessible Guided Walks

Cornwall Arthritis Trust has partnered with the National Trust at Trelissick to offer free, accessible guided walks for people who may be less mobile, particularly those living with arthritis or an MSK condition.

Participants can choose between a 0.5km or 1km route through the beautiful gardens, both of which include plenty of resting points and scenic viewpoints along the way.…

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New bilingual website for MSK services and patient support

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have published their bilingual signposting information to better support people living with musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions. Their website, available in both English and Welsh, can also be accessed via the signposting padlet (downloadable posters and business cards) and allows patients to access a variety of information including local health services, self-referrals to physiotherapy and self-management.

The Signposting update was undertaken by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Boards MSK Joint Services Advisory Group in which members of the North Wales ARMA Network play an active role.

The Scottish Report from NRAS

The Scottish Report: Improving Care for People Living with Inflammatory Conditions

The new Scotland‑wide survey by NRAS, The Scottish Report, has revealed significant challenges faced by people living with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. These are long‑term, often invisible conditions that can affect joints, organs, skin and the bowel, and impact around one in ten people.

The Scottish Report is based on the results of the NRAS survey carried out in Autumn 2025, with over 1,250 respondents from across Scotland.…

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Aftercare following steroid injection – patient info

MACPThis easy‑read, high‑quality Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) has been developed to support both patients and clinicians following musculoskeletal corticosteroid injection (CSI) in clinical settings. Providing patients with clear, consistent aftercare advice following CSI is recognised as best recommended practice and should form part of standard care.

Key features:

  • EASY-READ- Written for a reading age of 11. This leaflet ensures clarity and promotes accessibility to patients with varying literacy. Empower patients with better understanding and adherence to treatment plan and onward rehabilitation.
…

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HIPPOCRATES Prospective Observational Study

Help the Psoriasis Association recruit for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) study

A new study looking at the development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is looking for volunteers to take part – all from the comfort of their own home.

The HIPPOCRATES Prospective Observational Study (HPOS), led by the University of Oxford in collaboration with University College Dublin, is part of a wider research project investigating psoriatic arthritis across Europe.

Participants with psoriasis will be monitored over a three-year period to see who develops PsA.…

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NRAS ‘Right Start’ webinar

Time to give all patients with RA the ‘Right Start’
25 June 2026, 12-1pm
Webinar

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is encouraging healthcare professionals across the UK to refer patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to its Right Start programme, a free support service designed to help people understand and manage their condition from the earliest stages to those who have lived with RA for a long time.

NRAS will host a dedicated webinar on 25 June, led by Healthcare Engagement Manager Sarah Parsons, to guide clinicians through the referral process and highlight the benefits patients receive.…

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Denied by BMI: How ICB policies are failing patients with arthritis

Deborah AlsinaGuest Blog by Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK

Across England, people with arthritis are being left to wait in pain for joint replacement surgery that could transform their lives. Almost a fifth of ICBs are ignoring NICE guidelines and rationing surgeries based on a single arbitrary threshold, a patient’s BMI. Moreover, a further 54.7% have policies that restrict or alter access to surgery in some other way for those who are overweight or have obesity. Joint replacement surgery is not a lifestyle choice; it’s the bridge from living in constant pain to regaining independence.…

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