NASS welcomes QS for Spondyloarthritis

NASS welcomes the publication by NICE of a set of Quality Standards for Spondyloarthritis. Now we need to ensure that they are implemented effectively across the country so that every AS patient, every time, gets early diagnosis and high quality care. The NICE Quality Standard for Spondyloarthritis covers four areas: Adults with suspected axial or…

NASS are coming to Scotland

On 22 September 2018, NASS will be in Stirling, Scotland for the first in a series of regional Community Engagement Conferences. In a new style event for NASS, we will be bringing together healthcare professionals, people with AS, other patient organisations and researchers. Find more event details here including the event programme.

Winners announced for European patient-driven pain grant

The inaugural Brain, Mind and Pain Grant announced its winners in June, naming three innovative, patient-centred projects: Master Your Pain by Groningen University – an e-health platform to help patients with rheumatic pain self-manage their symptoms ASPERGA Association for their prototype auditory aid that aims to reduce sensory pain in people with autism spectrum disorder…

Improving Patient Safety & Care 2019 conference

Continuous Learning, Measurement & Improvement 6 February 2019 Royal Society of Medicine, London The inaugural Improving Patient Safety & Care 2018 conference will assess how the NHS are currently making a difference in regards to improved safety and care and how it intends to do so in the future through a transparent, constantly evolving patient-centred…

Living with persistent pain in Wales – consultation open

The Welsh Government has published its draft ‘Living with persistent pain in Wales guidance’ for consultation and is seeking views on the draft guidance which will replace the Service Development and Commissioning Directive for Chronic Non-Malignant Pain 2008. The consultation is on the proposed direction of the draft guidance, which includes: living with pain, supported…

Retirement – a false goal? Dame Carol Black lecture

In March, Dame Carol Black presented a TED Talk on retirement, in which she asked: are we doomed to spend the 30 or 40 years in bed – or could retirement be the start of a new chapter? Watch the video here on Youtube.

Apply to be an MSK Champion

Time is running out to become a Champion of Musculoskeletal Care. The deadline for this unique opportunity is 17 June 2018. Arthritis Research UK, together with Ashridge Executive Education, have created a bespoke leadership initiative with the aim of driving forward tangible improvements in MSK services within the local health systems of each Champion. We…

EULAR EMEUNET Journal Club and Social Media survey

EMEUNET (the Emerging Eular NETwork) and the EULAR School of Rheumatology have launched an online educational initiative called Twitter Journal Club, facilitated by experienced rheumatologists. The aim is to allow Twitter users to participate in a discussion with colleagues around the world about recent key papers in rheumatology. Each month details of the article selected…

Harnessing a collective focus to transform MSK services

Innovation, transformation, improvement; everyone is trying to change health services for the better from NHS England to ARMA and each of our members, from the top and the centre to the local and the frontline. There is also a lot being written about this. Last month’s guest blog looked at a report from the innovation…

EULAR’s approach to pain management

In May 2018, The European League Against Rheumatism published a set of recommendations designed to help health professionals implement approaches to pain management in inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis patients. The aim is to reduce pain and the burden on the individual and society. Pain is the predominant symptom for people with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and…