The Safe Care Steering Group survey

We all expect our healthcare to be safe, but mistakes can happen that may put patients at unnecessary risk.

This is the focus of the Safe Care Steering Group overseeing a James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership about safe care for adults with complex health needs, who have more than one condition or illness, or who need care from different teams and/or some care to be provided in their home.

On behalf of the Allied Health Professions Federation, Dr Jo Watson, RCOT’s Assistant Director – Education and Research, is part of this Steering Group.…

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NOS publishes new Osteoporosis Standards and Vertebral Fractures Guidance

On 30th November 2017, the National Osteoporosis Society published new Osteoporosis Standards and Vertebral Fractures Guidance for Health Professionals. The guidelines help health professionals provide the possible care for people with osteoporosis.

Fizz Thompson, Clinical Director for the National Osteoporosis Society, said: “The National Osteoporosis Society plays a key role in driving positive change in healthcare provision for people affected by fractures and osteoporosis, and these new documents – developed with clinical experts over a two year period – demonstrate how the Charity is setting the agenda in this area.…

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Giving GPs the Tools

On the 30th November 2017, the HMSA launched its ‘Giving GPs the Tools’ campaign! Click here to see the poster, full size.

With funding for UK healthcare held by GPs, a good relationship with your GP based on working in a partnership, is vital. They are the gateway to access any specialist services and interventions we may need. Yet time and time again, the HMSA hears about negative experiences. Positive management of the conditions the HMSA supports, needs to involve a well-informed GP working in partnership with their patient.…

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RheumaBuddy App

NRAS have partnered with Daman, a Danish digital Healthcare company, to bring you RheumaBuddy.

The aim of the app is to create an overview of your Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) on a daily basis by discovering patterns and ultimately gaining a greater control of the condition. As well as creating a great overview, RheumaBuddy allows you to log sleep, exercise and hours of work or school. It is also possible to chat with other patients and learn from their experiences.…

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Inflammatory Arthritis Toolkit

The British Society for Rheumatology has launched the Inflammatory Arthritis toolkit in partnership with the Royal College for GPs and health professionals. Designed to facilitate earlier treatment for this condition, this toolkit aims to be a user-friendly guide to inflammatory arthritis for primary care professionals, people affected by arthritis and clinical commissioning groups.

The RCPG have also provided a summary here.

Biologics guidance document for Rheumatology Practitioners

The RCN Rheumatology Forum would like to report that in September 2017 the 4th edition of the RCN Biologics guidance document for Rheumatology Practitioners went live: “Assessing, managing and monitoring Biologic therapies for Inflammatory Arthritis

It is available online now as a downloadable PDF via our link: my.rcn.org.uk/RCNguidance.

Strategy Day

On the 17th Nov 2017 the RCN Rheumatology Forum are planning to meet for a (self-funded) Strategy Day where future projects and final details of the forthcoming RCN Rheumatology Nursing Workshop will be discussed.…

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NHSE/ARMA Webinar & WHO Global Action Plan

NHSE/ARMA Webinar Gains Traction on YouTube

The “Sport, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Training in the NHS” webinar has received almost 300 views on YouTube; please continue to share and promote this important resource which highlights physical inactivity as the largest public health problem of the 21st century and outlines how Exercise Medicine and Musculoskeletal Medicine, delivered within the NHS, can have a positive impact on public health. View the Webinar here.

 

FSEM (UK) Responds to Draft WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (UK) has responded to a recent consultation by the World Health Organisation on physical activity.…

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Older People’s Day – 1 October 2017

Older People’s Day is celebrated on 1 October across the UK to coincide with the United Nations International Day of the Older Person (UNIDOP).

The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance is proud to join people across the world on Older People’s Day in celebrating the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society.

The CSP has assembled a page of Older People’s Day promotional material, presentations for healthcare professionals containing falls data and custom exercises for older people, and resources to help set up your own OPD event.…

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Ankylosing Spondylitis video – Not just Back Pain

NASS are delighted to launch the second in their series of three videos explaining what Ankylosing Spondylitis is and how it affects people.

The animation ‘Ankylosing Spondylitis – Not just Back Pain’ describes how AS can affect other joints, tendons and ligaments, along with other areas including the eyes, bowels and skin.

We hope you find the video interesting.

Please do share it to raise awareness of how AS affects 200,000 people in the UK.

A new addition to the LUPUS UK range of publications

In July LUPUS UK released the newest edition in their range of publications, ‘LUPUS: Bone Health & Osteoporosis’.

The factsheet was kindly written by Dr David Armstrong (Consultant Rheumatologist, Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry).

This factsheet can be downloaded from the LUPUS UK website at www.lupusuk.org.uk/publications/ and physical copies are available from the National Office in Romford.