Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance
Influencing policy and care together for best lifelong musculoskeletal health
The King’s Fund has worked with AHPs from across the UK to consider their contribution to tackling health inequalities. A framework based on the findings, to which the The Institute of Osteopathy has contributed, has now been published. It includes examples of work in health inequalities, including a service provided by osteopaths in South London.
Read the article My role in tackling health inequalities: a framework for allied health professionals on the King’s Fund website.
The JIA booklet Medicines in JIA was launched by NRAS earlier this year. The focus of this booklet is on the medicines that are used to treat JIA, but it also contains information about what parents and young people with JIA can expect at every stage from diagnosis onwards, showing that medicines are only one part of treatment.
This booklet was made in close partnership with parents, young people and healthcare professionals. Inside, you will find a directory containing detailed information on each of the JIA medicines, as well as information on how the immune system works, the support available from healthcare teams and other ways to help manage JIA alongside medication.…
Read more of this article
The Better Health – Every Mind Matters website has recently been refreshed to help people access the content more easily.
There are things we can all do to look after our mental wellbeing and the Every Mind Matters Mind Plan can provide NHS approved personalised advice on positive steps people can take to help manage anxiety, sleep better and boost your mood. Get Your Mind Plan here.
The Better Health Every Mind Matters platform includes practical tips and videos from experts and what you can do to help others – including advice for parents and for children and young people.…
Read more of this article
NRAS is pleased to announce the launch of its new JIA booklet Medicines in JIA. The focus of the booklet is on the medicines that are used to treat JIA, but it also contains information about what parents and young people with JIA can expect at every stage from diagnosis to ongoing long-term care, showing that medicines are only one part of treatment.
The new booklet can be ordered or downloaded for free from the JIA website.
NRAS Upcoming Events:
Every allied health professional plays an important role in tackling health inequalities. The 14 allied health professional bodies, Public Health England, NHS England and NHS Improvement have worked with The King’s Fund to develop a simple framework to help any allied health professional consider their role in tackling health inequalities.
The framework has been created to help AHPs to find their own unique role in this and to explore ways to maximise their contribution. It was created in collaboration with AHPs from across the 14 professional groups.…
Read more of this article
State of health and care: The NHS Long Term Plan after COVID-19
A new report from IPPR shows the extent to which the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted progress on the NHS Long Term Plan. The report looks at cancer, mental illness, cardiovascular disease and multiple long term conditions, but the findings are equally relevant to MSK services.
The report argues that COVID-19 should not become an excuse for low ambition, and that world-class healthcare must remain the overall goal. To achieve this, the report recommends a package of six ambitious changes designed to do three things:
The Quality in Osteopathic Practice report collates information on patient experience, evidence, impact, training and regulation of osteopathic practice in the UK.
It provides a concise and evidence-informed view of the profession and how osteopaths can potentially support wider health and social care services across the UK.
The launch of NHS England’s Best MSK Health programme gives the population’s musculoskeletal health in England a focus and priority like never before, and much needed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NHS England waiting times data shows people with serious MSK conditions needing diagnosis and treatment by rheumatology and elective care services are waiting much longer. The same is true for community MSK services and treatment. At the other end of the spectrum, for people who previously had no long-term conditions, the lockdown effect on mental well-being, exercise and weight-gain are significant obstacles to their musculoskeletal health now and into the future.…
Read more of this article
ARMA continues to keep our COVID-19 resources page up to date. There have been some new resources added in recent weeks and others have become more relevant as the pressure on the NHS increases. Here are some of the key resources to be aware of:-
The guidance supports primary and community care practitioners in recognising serious pathology which requires emergency or urgent referral to secondary care in a patient who presents with new or worsening MSK symptoms.…
Read more of this article
by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA
Here we are back in lockdown, with the NHS under even more pressure and MSK services severely impacted. COVID-19 response is still dominating the work of ARMA, although we are also progressing plans for other work in 2021. There are some different issues for MSK this time around, and vaccination currently dominates our work. When some people with MSK conditions are vaccinated, the timings of MSK treatment may need to be considered.
I am delighted that ARMA can host a document setting out the principles for these timing decisions.…
Read more of this article
