Category: Patients

NRAS JoinTogether group meeting

NRAS groupsFor many people, attending a local group in person may not be possible. But with the NRAS JoinTogether digital groups, you can connect online with others who have similar interests and lifestyles. All groups are run by volunteers.

Menopause with IA

A supportive space for women navigating Menopause and Inflammatory Arthritis: this group offers a welcoming, safe space for women to connect, share, and feel heard throughout every stage of menopause—from perimenopause to post-menopause—while also managing life with Inflammatory Arthritis. The meetings will provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss practical tips for symptom management, as well as hear expert advice from guest speakers who understand the unique challenges of this journey.…

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SMILE-RA – Exercise just got easier

NRAS understands that for people living with rheumatoid arthritis, physical activity is not a short‑term resolution but an important, sustained commitment that supports health throughout the year. SMILE-RA is a free, user friendly program designed to support people living with RA self-manage their condition.

To help individuals incorporate exercise more effectively into daily life, NRAS has refined the original SMILE‑RA Exercise module into two concise components: The Science Explained, which outlines the evidence behind the benefits of regular exercise for heart health, joint function, energy, mood, and overall wellbeing; and Let’s Move, which provides practical, achievable guidance for integrating physical activity into everyday routines in a sustainable and adaptable way.…

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New report from the APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health

A new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Osteoporosis and Bone Health has revealed more than half of people with osteoporosis say they’ve had no contact from the NHS about their condition in the past year. 

The ‘Seen, Heard, Supported: Transforming Osteoporosis Care’ report, supported by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, also found that nearly one in four have had no contact for more than three years, exposing them to life-threatening hip and spinal fractures.

The report comes after an APPG Inquiry explored how people with osteoporosis are supported across their care pathway, particularly the transition between hospital, primary and community care, and what happens when responsibility for follow-up, monitoring and ongoing support is unclear or absent.…

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Psoriasis Awareness Week 2025

Psoriasis Awareness Week 2025Psoriasis Awareness Week is fast approaching with this year’s event running from Wednesday 29th October to Tuesday 4th November 2025 with the theme ‘Comorbidities of Psoriasis’.

Comorbidities are the presence of one or more additional diseases or disorders that occur in someone, alongside already living with psoriasis.

This includes conditions such as Psoriatic Arthritis, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and the mental health impact that living with psoriasis may have including low self-esteem, feelings of isolation and loneliness and anxiety and depression.…

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The new NRAS RA Symptom Checker

Is it RA? animation

NRAS is proud to announce they have launched a new online tool aimed at helping individuals identify early signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune condition that affects around 400,000 people in the UK. If left untreated, it can cause long-term joint damage and affect other organs such as the lungs, heart, and eyes. Early diagnosis is crucial to managing the disease and preventing irreversible harm. 

To support this, NRAS has introduced the “Is it RA?” Symptom Checker, a user-friendly online resource developed with input from leading rheumatology experts.…

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Scottish Survey of autoimmune inflammatory conditions

NRAS is leading on an important collaborative survey of people with autoimmune inflammatory conditions across Scotland about their experience of care in the NHS. We want to hear from any patients with a diagnosis of any of the following conditions:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Axial Spondyloarthritis
• Psoriatic Arthritis or Psoriasis
• Lupus
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The survey is live from 1st September 2025 until 10th October 2025.

Below is a link to our website and a copy of our flyer.…

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Living with RA in Wales?

A chance to meet the team who support you! 

NRAS is pleased to invite people in Mid-Wales to an in-person event in Aberystwyth on the 22nd of October 2025. 

Members of the NRAS team, including Director of Innovation and Services Donagh Stenson, will be joined by Professor Karim Raza, Consultant Rheumatologist, Bronglais Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health Board, and Sarah O’Donovan, a rheumatology nurse specialist who works with Professor Raza. The event will consist of talks by Donagh and Karim about how NRAS can support people to self-manage their condition and about developments in rheumatology care.…

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Disability benefit changes – what they mean

disability benefitIn June, Versus Arthritis launched their Cut to the Bone campaign, calling on the UK Government to rethink its proposed cuts to disability benefits. In response, almost 40,000 people emailed their MPs, calling on them to vote against these cuts.

The campaign really made a difference. People with arthritis came together to call for change, so Versus Arthritis is pleased that the UK Government listened to our community and announced their U-turn on PIP.

However, despite the changes, we want to ensure that the UK Government doesn’t simply delay proposed cuts to PIP or make changes to eligibility criteria in the future.…

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