News

Health and Social Care Secretary statement on Covid-19 vaccination of at-risk children aged 6 months to 4 years

Five new patient organisation leaders to join ABPI Patient Advisory Council

Five new patient organisation leaders have been appointed to the ABPI’s Patient Advisory Council, which provides advise and insight on the patient perspective to the ABPI Board and leadership team, to ensure the needs of patients are embedded in all ABPI decision making. Launched in 2021, the Council comprises a mix of charities which represent […]

Survey reveals patients skipping meds due to cost is leading to secondary health issues and more sick days

As prescription charges are set to rise this April, a bombshell survey of 4,000 patients with long term conditions has revealed that one in ten skip medications due to cost. This has led to almost a THIRD of those developing secondary health issues and over HALF taking sick days, heaping a bigger financial burden on […]

2023 Spring Booster Programme

The government has approved advice from the JCVI that an extra booster vaccine dose in spring 2023 should be offered, as a precautionary measure to: As long as there is a 3-month gap between the date of your last vaccination, you will soon be able to access this booster dose. Please wait for the NHS […]

Inflammatory disease organisations come together to raise concerns about Homecare Medicines Services  

British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for Rheumatoid Arthritis (BSRBR-RA) Research Study survey, in collaboration with NRAS.

Accessing Care During the Pandemic Report

NRAS and Oxford Hospitals Trust have published -Accessing Care during the Pandemic Report. A UK wide survey of people with RA and Adult JIA during the pandemic to capture their experiences of accessing care both virtually and in person. We feel this document will give useful insight into patient needs as rheumatology teams re-design services […]

Identifying support needs for rheumatology patients following COVID-19 shielding: Lay Summary

Support needs for rheumatology patients following COVID-19 shielding

PSA: Potential Nurse Strikes

It is the first time in the RCN’s 106-year history that it has instigated a statutory ballot of its members across all the countries of the UK about taking industrial action. “Anger has become action. Our members are saying enough is enough,” said Pat Cullen, the union’s general secretary and chief executive. “Our members will […]

Clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines 

All vaccines go through a robust clinical trial process and are only given to patients once they have met the strict safety, effectiveness and quality standards of the UK’s medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).   The UK has provided funding and responded quickly to fast-track the world’s most innovative vaccines for […]

BSR issue guidelines on medicating during pregnancy and breastfeeding

The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) has produced two new guidelines for the prescribing of medication for patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Naturally, taking any medication during pregnancy can be risky and is a great worry to patients, but the risks of this need to be weighed against the importance of keeping RA under […]