This news feed is contributions from ARMA members, news of forthcoming events, details of new publications and other items of interest.
ARMA provides an informal publication tool which provide members with an opportunity to communicate with others within the arthritis and musculoskeletal community. In fact the Newsletter relies on material sent in by members and others.
A4T Newsletter
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Healthcare & Education Officer
The Paget’s Association, the UK’s only charity supporting people with Paget’s disease of bone, is looking to recruit a Healthcare & Education Officer to build on the excellent work done by the current post holder.
We are looking for an exceptional individual educated to degree level who is able to play a key role in the following areas:
developing the Association’s health and education programmes and education strategy
operating and monitoring a help line
developing and delivering health education programmes to ...
Two new appointments for NASS Director Debbie Cook
ASIF: The NASS Director, Debbie Cook, is delighted to have been elected to the Ankylosing Spondylitis International Federation’s (ASIF) Executive Committee soon after her appointment with NASS. ASIF consists of patient groups from around 25 countries who share the same objectives to exchange information and experiences of AS, cooperate in international research projects, support patients and countries where groups do not currently exists and work together to raise awareness of AS and the ...
PSALV Exhibition in Hollyrood - ‘Under the Spotlight’
PSALV Exhibited in Holyrood from 24th-27th October, showcasing DVDS of their ‘Under the Spotlight’ FILM, which feature patients living with psoriasis and PsA.
There was also in a supplement in the Guardian for ‘World psoriasis Day’-29th October.
We had many photographs taken with many MSPs including the Public Health Minister, and Alex Salmond. This photograph is a picture of Michael Matheson, MSP and Janice Johnson, Chair, PSALV.
PSALV are The Scottish members of International Federation of Psoriasis Associations
Move ...
NASS on This Morning
NASS is delighted that Adam Rickitt, Actor, and Dr Raj Sengupta, NASS Trustee and Consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases sat on the sofa with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV1's This Morning programme on Wednesday 9 November 2011 talking about ankylosing spondylitis.
This is the first time that AS has been covered on national television which is fantastic and gives NASS a real platform to further educate the general public on the symptoms, treatment and management for AS.
Adam, who is ...
Healthcare Champions Awards
NRAS was delighted to announce the 10 winners of their third Healthcare Champions Award in a year of celebrating their 10th Anniversary.
The winners, from around the UK, were honoured at a special reception on 1stNovember at the State Rooms, Speaker’s House, House of Commons, where the awards were presented by The Home Secretary and NRAS patron, The Rt Hon Theresa May MP.
Read more....
Patients in Focus Awards
The NRAS Patients in Focus awards are now open for applications. These awards aim to recognize patient-centred initiatives and good practice in the education, treatment and care of people with RA. Applications are invited from teams and individuals working in rheumatology both in hospital units and the community. A prize of £1500 is available for the winning entry. If you would like more information please visit the NRAS website or call 0845 458 7650.
Closing date for applications ...
NRAS celebrated its official 10th birthday on 18th October!
NRAS celebrated its official 10th birthday on Tuesday 18th October! The year has been packed with events to celebrate this special year such as the Team 10 Skydive, 10th Birthday Lunch, Tea for 10 Parties held by members/volunteers, the NRAS 10k Run at Hughenden Manor as well as a team of 6 runners completing a ‘Marathon in a Month’ by taking part in the Great North Run (along with Ailsa and ...
PMR and GCA Scotland reorganise database
We have recently had to reorganise our database, in order to maximise its use, and the statistics that have emerged have surprised us. We have 707 names with PMR or GCA. 422 have PMR and 285 have GCA or PMR & GCA. Therefore 40%+ have GCA ....a rare disease!!! We are well aware that many with PMR, not severely affected, get by without needing information or support so these figures do not give a ...
Recruitment of Chief Executive
We are currently looking to recruit a full-time Chief Executive responsible for managing the Society and ensuring it fulfills its charitable objectives. The person chosen will be responsible for implementing the Society’s 5-year business plan.
For an overview of the Society and the role please download the full job advertisement.
For full details of the role, please download the job description.
For details of the type of person we are looking to recruit please download the personal specification.
To apply, please ...
The third Annual Fit for Work Europe Conference
The third Annual Fit for Work Europe Conference took place on Wednesday 19 October 2011 in Brussels, endorsed by the Polish Presidency of the EU.
Attracting over 170 delegates from across Europe, including healthcare professionals, policy makers, patients, employers and trade unions, this year's conference was the most successful ever.
The central theme of the conference was ‘Change with Us: Practical steps and solutions towards making musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) a health and work priority at ...
Neil Betteridge steps down as chief executive of Arthritis Care
In a statement issued by the Board of Trustees on 22 September, the chair of Arthritis Care, Rosemary Blair, announced that chief executive, Neil Betteridge, is moving on to pursue new career options.
‘Neil has brought enormous strengths to Arthritis Care over 11 years, for the past seven as chief executive. He has succeeded in raising the needs of people with arthritis up the political agenda at national and local levels and ...
NICE Draft guidance
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) had previously recommended the medication, but said new evidence had come to light about its effectiveness as a second-line treatment option and there were doubts about its value for money. The announcement follows a decision earlier this week to approve golimumab as a treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis.
The draft guidance from NICE rejects the use of abatacept (marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb under the brand name Orencia) in combination with ...
CSP staff showed members of parliament how to stay fit at work on 14 June in the House of Commons It was part of a cross-party event at which the CSP group talked to MPs about how to improve musculoskeletal services in their constituencies. To read the full article please click on the link below:
Once again The Scleroderma Society is supporting the Walk for Skin programme organised by The British Skin Foundation.
Many members have greatly enjoyed these walks in previous years and they can be a lovely day out for all the family.
This year, any sponsorship money you raise will be shared equally between The British Skin Foundation and The Scleroderma Society.
We shall be promoting these events in the newsletter and on our website as usual, but if you would like to find out ...
NASS welcomes the NICE provisional decision on new ankylosing spondylitis treatment
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has provisionally recommended use of the drug golimumab (Simponi). This draft guidance means that this treatment may soon become routinely available for people with severe ankylosing spondylitis (AS) whose condition has not responded to standard therapy.
Debbie Cook, Director of the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS) says:
"Around 200,000 people in the UK have ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It usually starts in the late ...
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