News & Events
General News & Events
The NRAS Christmas Carol Concert tickets are now on sale!
Please click here to read more about this year's concert.
NRAS welcomes the publication of Professor Harrington’s second independent review on the Work Capability Assessment in 2011
Maidenhead, UK – 24 November 2011 - NRAS today welcomes the publication of Professor Harrington’s second independent review on the Work Capability Assessment in 2011, which focuses on issues including:
• Introducing checks on benefit decisions to ensure fairness and consistency.
• Working with disability groups to help develop guidance for Atos healthcare professionals and decision makers.
• Improved support and communications for people who move onto Jobseeker’s Allowance to make sure they get the help they need.
• Regularly publishing data on performance and quality to improve the transparency of the face-to face assessment.
Click here to read more.
Scottish Medical Consortium Update
Click here to read more.
NRAS Mark Third Healthcare Champions Award Success
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is 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, will be honoured at a special reception to be held tonight at the State Rooms, Speaker’s House, House of Commons, where the awards will be presented by The Home Secretary and NRAS patron, The Rt Hon Theresa May MP. Click here to read more.
World Arthritis Day Webchat - Questions and Answers Published
Read the transcript from the World Arthritis Day (12th October 2011) web chat with Health Minister Paul Burstow here.
New RA and Physiotherapy report published by NRAS and CSP
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) today (12 October) publish a new UK-wide report highlighting the medical evidence around the benefits of physiotherapy in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), but also uncovering serious problems in the way physiotherapy services are being organised and accessed throughout the UK.
Click here to read more on this report.
NRAS supports 'Ask for Evidence' campaign to put a stop to misleading claims about science and medicine
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) are pleased to support this campaign “Ask for Evidence” by Sense about Science.
Click here to find out how you can help put a stop to misleading claims about science and medicine.
NRAS bids for Natwest CommunityForce funding
The NRAS Maidenhead Project is the first community support workshop and regular support group focusing on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The project will bring together patients, carers and Health Care Professionals to support people living with RA.
To vote for the NRAS Maidenhead Project and help us secure funding of £6000, please
click here.
NRAS response to Professor Harrington’s Year 2 Review on the Work Capability Assessment
NRAS recently made a submission to Professor Harrington as part of his second review into the operation of the Work Capability Assessment. The submission focused on the issue of the quality of the Evidence Based Protocol on Rheumatoid Arthritis that is used by Atos Assessors to carry out medical assessments. We raised serious concerns about errors and omissions contained in the latest protocol relating to the characteristics, signs and symptoms of RA, and the treatment and prognosis for the disease.
For more information, please
click here.
Ailsa and her pushers completed the Great North Run!
Ailsa and her team of pushers completed the Great North Run in just under 3 hours - you can still sponsor her
here.
Patients In Focus Awards 2012: Applications Now Open
NRAS Patients In Focus Awards 2012 are now open for applications. Now in its 9th year the NRAS Patients in Focus Awards aim to recognise patient-centred initiatives and good practice in the education, treatment and care of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Applications are invited from teams and individuals working in rheumatology both in hospital units and in the community.
Click here for more information and to download the application form or call NRAS on 0845 458 3969 to request a form. Deadline for receipt of entries Friday 3rd February 2012.
UK cities set for disabled people's protest – HARDEST HIT Day of Action
WHAT: Disabled people, their families and friends taking to the streets in cities across the UK protesting against Government cuts to disability benefits and services. This takes place one year on from the Comprehensive Spending Review that revealed the Government’s intention to slash public spending.
WHEN: 22 October 2011
WHERE: Protests are planned across the UK, including Edinburgh, Cardiff, Leeds, Nottingham, Brighton, Manchester, Newcastle and Bristol (more locations to follow).
For more information, please
click here.
NRAS joint response to Work and Pensions Committee inquiry on the Disability Living Allowance
Maidenhead, UK, 07 September 2011 - NRAS is part of the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) of over fifty charities and other organisations committed to working towards a fair benefits system. The group has made a new joint submission to the Work and Pensions Select Committee as part of its inquiry into the future of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). PIP is a new benefit for disabled people intended to replace DLA, which was announced in the consultation paper on Disability Living Allowance Reform in December 2010 and the Welfare Reform Bill, introduced in February 2011.
For more information, please
click here.
NRAS delighted with proposed inclusion of Rheumatoid Arthritis as part of a library of topics to be selected for development into Quality Standards
One of the aims of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society this year has been to achieve a Quality Standard for RA – and today (15th August 2011) NICE and the National Quality Board has launched a consultation about the first library of topics to be selected for development.
For more information, please
click here.
New Arthritis Research UK questionnaire on Personal Health Budgets
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society is working in partnership with Arthritis Research UK (AR UK) to ensure the views of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis are represented within the Government’ new Personal Health Budgets initiative, which is currently being piloted in some parts of England.
Would you like to take part in a survey about Personal Health Budgets? Please
click here for more information.
Volunteers with arthritis wanted for research study
“How do patients with arthritis seek information in online health communities?”
Are you above 16 years of age? Do you have arthritis? Do you seek and (or) share information in online forums?
If you answered YES to all these questions, we would love you to get in touch and participate in our study. Please
click here for more information.
From sick to fit – The new statement of fitness for work
On 6th April 2010 the traditional ‘sick note’ was replaced by the all new improved ‘fit note’. Though initially hailed as a radical change in practice this is, to a degree, spin in that the new fit note, otherwise known as the ‘Med 3’ form or ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’ form, is an amalgamation of previous forms: Med 3,4,5,6 and RM7, which have until now provided similar information and are to be withdrawn.
For more information on 'fit notes'
click here.
Advice on Swine Flu for rheumatology patients
Click here for the BSR (British Society for Rheumatology) information on swine flu
Click here for Direct gov info on swine flu.
NRAS have also put together some general information on swine flu, takenfrom the various available NHS sources. To read this information,
click here.
There is also a useful PDF from Department of Health which you can view by
clicking here.
The Effort Survey
Are you someone with rheumatoid arthritis who has had footwear, insoles or foot splints? Or, are you a health professional who has provided such services? The University of East Anglia (UEA) really want to hear from you. Please
click here for more information and to take part in the survey.
NICE have once again said 'no' to the use of Tocilizumab in the NHS
The NRAS are devastated to learn that NICE have once again said ‘no’ to the use of Tocilizumab in the NHS. This is indeed a bitter blow for patients who have failed on Anti-TNF, particularly those who have sero-negative RA and for whom the only other biologic drug option, Rituximab, may not be suitable.
To see the full NRAS statement in regard to NICE decision on Tocilizumab, please
click here.
The '12 Tips of Christmas'
Survey results show that 'Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Want Pain-Free Shopping Days at Christmas', please
click here to see the findings and download our '12 Tips of Christmas' to help you embrace and enjoy the countdown to Christmas.
Patients in Focus Awards 2010
Have you developed a new idea to improve services for, or the education of your rheumatoid arthritis patients?If so, you can win £1,500 in the Patients in Focus Awards 2010. The deadline for entries is Friday 29th January 2010.
To download the application form and for further details, please
click here.
2010 Stene Prize
Every other year EULAR and the Standing Committee for PARE offer the Edgar Stene Prize for the best essay by a rheumatic patient on a previously determined topic. The Stene Prize is EUR 2,000 and includes travel to the Annual EULAR Congress of that year with hotel accommodation for up to four nights as well as an invitation to attend the Opening Ceremony and the Gala Dinner at the congress.
UK competitors should submit an essay not exceeding 2 pages (A4) in their national language to
sarahrich@arma.uk.net by 31 January 2010.
Please
click here for further details.
The Yellow Card scheme
Spontaneous reporting of side-effects to medicines is an important method of monitoring the safety of medicines throughout their marketed life. For many years health professionals have made a valuable contribution to this process by reporting suspected adverse drug reactions to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UK medicines regulatory body, via the Yellow Card scheme.
More...
‘Who Sees What?’ national consultation on electronic patient records
Have you ever wondered how your personal health records are stored and who has access to them? Do you want to know more about how things might change as the NHS shifts to a system of electronic records? Now is your chance to learn what the NHS plans to do with your personal information, and to let the government know what you think. Patients, carers, health workers and members of the public are being invited to have their say through a six-month national consultation, organised by the New Economics Foundation, from September 2009 to February 2010.
More...
Lay Member vacancy: BPS Patient Liaison Committee
The British Pain Society (BPS) Patient Liaison Committee is now recruiting for another lay member to join the committee.
Application is by CV with covering letter addressing the key elements of the person specification, which will be forwarded with the application pack.
The closing date is Friday 29th January 2010 at 5pm. Click here for further details.
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