MPs call for improvement to benefit assessments
On 14 February 2018, an influential group of MPs published a new report evaluating the assessment process for two forms of financial support, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and making strong recommendations for improvements.PIP is a source of financial support designed to help people with disabilities and long-term conditions to manage the extra costs of their condition. ESA offers financial support for those unable to work, as well as personalised help with getting back into work if people are able to take steps towards employment.PIP and ESA are two benefits that many peop...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - February 16, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Local MPs and MSP visit prestigious Glasgow research centre
Alison Thewliss MP, Bill Kidd MSP and Carol Monaghan MP all visited theArthritis Research UK Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathogenesis Centre of Excellence (RACE), at the University of Glasgow on Friday (9 February), to learn about the impact of arthritis on their local constituents and the current investment in arthritis research across Scotland.The centre, which is funded by Arthritis Research UK, investigates the causes of and potential treatments forrheumatoid arthritis, a painful autoimmune disease which affects over 400,000 people in the UK. Data analysed by the charity reveals that nearly 37,000 people in Scotland...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - February 12, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Local MPs and MSP visit prestigious Glasgow research centre
Alison Thewliss MP, Bill Kidd MSP and Carol Monaghan MP all visited theArthritis Research UK Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathogenesis Centre of Excellence (RACE), at the University of Glasgow on Friday (9 February), to learn about the impact of arthritis on their local constituents and the current investment in arthritis research across Scotland.The centre, which is funded by Arthritis Research UK, investigates the causes of and potential treatments forrheumatoid arthritis, a painful autoimmune disease which affects over 400,000 people in the UK. Data analysed by the charity reveals that nearly 37,000 people in Scotland...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - February 12, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Share your experience of care and support
What do you think when you of social care? If your mind jumps to care homes, then you’re not alone. But social care is so much more than this, especially for people with arthritis and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, it can be a key factor in helping people to stay independent.If you have experience of the system - whether you’ve successfully or unsuccessfully tried to access support, use aids around the home, or have funded your own care - please spare a few minutes and fill in theCare and Support Alliance’s survey on social care.If social care doesn’t just mean care homes, what does it mean?Socia...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - January 25, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Fibre-rich foods 'may help protect against joint diseases and improve bone health'
People eating adiet featuring plenty of fibre-rich foods such as muesli may experience better bone health and a lower risk of autoimmune diseases. This is according to a new study from Germany's Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, which has shed light on how a healthy diet rich in fibre can alter the behaviour of intestinal bacteria in a way that has a positive impact on chronic inflammatory joint diseases. How does fibre-rich food improve bone health? Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study looked at mice to examine the effect that diet has on the composition of intestinal ba...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - January 22, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Osteoarthritis 'could be re-categorised as two distinct groups of disease'
Osteoarthritis could be treated more effectively in the future by dividing patients into two distinct disease groups, according to new research. TheArthritis Research UK-funded study, carried out by the University of Manchester, has discovered that the current definition of osteoarthritis may actually encompass two separate groups with different disease activity patterns, and that developing new treatments for both versions may be more effective than the current one-size-fits-all approach. Two different patterns of disease activity Published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the research involved a mathematical anal...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - January 17, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Screening for osteoporosis 'can be effective in preventing hip fractures'
Providing women with opportunities to attend community screening forosteoporosis could significantly reduce the number of hip fractures they suffer.This is the conclusion of a new study led by the University of East Anglia, with funding by the Medical Research Council and Arthritis Research UK, which has suggested that screening could catch as many as one-quarter of all hip fractures before they happen.How the screening worksThe study brought together researchers from universities across the country, with a total of 12,483 women aged 70 to 85 recruited from 100 GP practices in seven regions - Birmingham, Bristol, Mancheste...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - January 11, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Screening for osteoporosis 'can be effective in preventing hip fractures'
Providing women with opportunities to attend community screening forosteoporosis could significantly reduce the number of hip fractures they suffer. This is the conclusion of a new study led by the University of East Anglia, with funding by the Medical Research Council andArthritis Research UK, which has suggested that screening could catch as many as one-quarter of all hip fractures before they happen. How the screening works The study brought together researchers from universities across the country, with a total of 12,483 women aged 70 to 85 recruited from 100 GP practices in seven regions - Birmingham, Bristol, Manches...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - January 11, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Every £1 invested in medical research delivers a return equivalent to 25p every year, forever
This study shows that funding research into these conditions not only delivers direct health benefits to patients, it is also hugely beneficial to the UK economy, helping to lay the foundations for a healthier, wealthier future.“This report supports previous findings that investing in biomedical research delivers an annual return of about 25 pence per pound in perpetuity, offering an indisputable economic benefit. This new figure ably illustrates why scientific research has earnt its place at the heart of a modern industrial strategy.”Dr Louise Wood, Director of Science, Research and Evidence, Department of Hea...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - January 10, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Every £1 invested in medical research delivers a return equivalent to 25p every year, forever
This study shows that funding research into these conditions not only delivers direct health benefits to patients, it is also hugely beneficial to the UK economy, helping to lay the foundations for a healthier, wealthier future.“This report supports previous findings that investing in biomedical research delivers an annual return of about 25 pence per pound in perpetuity, offering an indisputable economic benefit. This new figure ably illustrates why scientific research has earnt its place at the heart of a modern industrial strategy.”Dr Louise Wood, Director of Science, Research and Evidence, Department of Hea...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - January 10, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news

Influencing for people with arthritis in 2017
We know that arthritis can impact on all parts of a person’s life, and as a result our policy, campaigns and public affairs team have had a busy year. Working across health, work, benefits, social care, and many more areas, there have been lots of positive developments to reflect on in 2017, but there are also some big challenges ahead.A huge thanks to everyone who has supported our work across 2017. Your emails to decision makers, survey responses, petition signatures and the stories you’ve shared with us, have made our work hugely powerful and helped us create an impact.Here’s a rundown of our top 5 hig...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - December 21, 2017 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news