What's new?
On Friday 2nd July, the above report was launched. NRAS CEO, Ailsa Bosworth, was on the Steering Group which oversaw the development of this report. It addresses two areas: musculoskeletal conditions and mental health in the context of work and worklessness and discusses many important issues in a refreshingly frank way. There are no easy answers to the problems of rescuing people who find themselves in the ‘Bermuda Triangle of Society’, i.e. having lost their job due to their long term condition and with little or no prospect of getting back into the workforce. The conclusions and action by government and other agencies in respect of the report’s recommendations are crucial if we are to start to see work as an important health outcome of treatment.
Please
click here to download or read a copy of the report.
On Friday 2nd July, NICE issued guidance on Tocilizumab. The Guidance
states that Tocilizumab, (RoActemra) in combination with methotrexate,
is recommended for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid
arthritis in people whose rheumatoid arthritis has responded
inadequately to one or more tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)
inhibitors andwhose rheumatoid arthritis has responded inadequately to
rituximab or in whom rituximab is contraindicated or when rituximab is
withdrawn because of an adverse effect.
On Friday 25th June, NICE issued long awaited guidance about treatment
options for adults with severe active rheumatoid arthritis who have had
an inadequate response to, or have an intolerance of, other DMARDs,
including at least one TNF inhibitor.
Elizabeth Jarvis talks of her experiences with using her car (and her blue badge) to keep her mobile.
One of our newest members talks of his experiences as 'RA Guy' (his superhero persona) and describes what it is like to be a man in his 30s coming to terms with this condition.
The Fit for Work study showed that over 44 million (one in six) members of the European Union (EU) workforce now have a long-standing health problem or disability that affects their ability to work, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for a higher proportion of sickness absence from work than any other health condition.