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Reflections on opportunities for better MS health

Throughout my first three months in post, I have been constantly struck by the breadth, diversity, expertise and impact of ARMA’s member organisations. Last week I had the pleasure of being a guest of the British Orthopaedic Association at their Annual Congress in Liverpool. Under the theme of ‘Preventing Harm & Transforming Lives’, I attended...
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Better MSK health is the foundation of our future prosperity and wellbeing

The link between health and economic activity has become a central focus of policy. New analysis from the ONS and NHS England, highlighted by the King’s Fund, shows how health and work are closely connected. Poor health reduces employment and productivity, and long NHS waiting lists hold people back from returning to work. Improving musculoskeletal...
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Prevention is everyone’s business. Creating the conditions for good MSK health.

Too often, prevention is discussed as something that happens in clinics, advice about exercise, diet, or weight management given to us once problems begin to appear. But if we’re serious about improving musculoskeletal (MSK) health, we must think much more broadly. True prevention is not just about changing individual behaviour. It’s about shaping the environments,...
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A Christmas Message from ARMA’s CEO

As the year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on my first six months in post. Since joining ARMA in June, I’ve met almost all our members and associate members. I’ve been heartened by your generosity, honesty, and commitment to improving MSK health for millions of people. I’ve drunk more tea and coffee than...
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An important year ahead

I’m not sure whether to start with excitement for the year ahead… or an apology for this newsletter arriving later than planned thanks to a small but mighty IT saga behind the scenes. Let’s call it proof that even in a digital age, progress still occasionally involves turning things off and on again. But delays...
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A moment to reflect and a moment to act

As we approach publication of ARMA’s new five year strategy, this feels like an important moment to pause and reflect on the state of musculoskeletal (MSK) health, our sector, and our Alliance. The challenges are clear. Community MSK waiting lists remain among the longest in the NHS, leaving too many people waiting in persistent pain...
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20 Million Reasons our new strategy matters

Publishing a new strategy is always a moment to pause. Not just to look ahead, but to reflect on why the choices you’re making matter and why now is the right time to be ambitious. ARMA’s new strategy is grounded in a simple but powerful truth: there are 20 million reasons to act. Over 20...
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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...
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Denied by BMI: How ICB policies are failing patients with arthritis

Guest 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...
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NRAS JoinTogether group meeting

For 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...
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