BSR Welcomes Standards of Care Launch

BSR Welcomes Standards of Care Launch as a chance to make a difference for millions of people with musculoskeletal conditions.

The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) warmly welcomes the launch by the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) of the Standards of Care which aim to improve the lives of people with musculoskeletal conditions.

The Standards have been drawn up by working groups including BSR’s clinical experts working alongside users and people with musculoskeletal conditions. They identify the care that 8.5 million people living with these conditions should be able to expect and promote good evidence based advice on key issues such as disease prevention and access to treatment.

The Standards of Care, which include many examples of good practice, are designed to provide a framework to help local service commissioners plan the use of their resources better in order to deliver high quality services. Professor David Isenberg, BSR, President said: “The necessity of having these Standards has become increasingly evident due to the failure of current services to meet patients’ needs and the exciting development of new therapies for patients with many rheumatological diseases.”

BSR members are hopeful that the Standards will lead the way to effecting real changes in people’s lives in enabling people with musculoskeletal conditions to stay in work or to return to the workplace.

Copies of ARMA’s Standards of Care for people with inflammatory arthritis, osteoarthritis and back pain are available from the ARMA website at www.arma.uk.net

ENDS

Notes:

The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) is a medical society committed to advancing knowledge and practice in the field of rheumatology. The society aims to improve awareness and understanding of arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions and work at national and local level to promote high quality standards of care for people with these conditions.

The BSR currently has around 1400 members in the UK and overseas; the majority of these are consultant and trainee rheumatologists.

ARMA is a consortium of 28 organisations which aims to raise awareness around musculoskeletal conditions. More details are available from www.arma.uk.net

For further information about BSR’s involvement with the Standards of Care, please contact Lizzie Bloom, BSR Policy Officer, lbloom@rheumatology.org.uk or on 020 7242 3313

To find out more about ARMA’s Standards of Care contact the ARMA office directly on 020 7841 5191