My first 3 months back at NRAS

Hello there,

I’m Sarah Kate (which has caused lots of confusion in the office with two Sarah’s starting in the same week!) and some of you may remember me from a little while ago when I worked with Gail in the Membership team. Well, lots has happened since then, I have visited a total of 9 countries (I refer to it as travelling but some like to describe it as gallivanting!), hiked to Macchu Pichu, sampled lots of lovely wine in Argentina and visited the Rocky Mountains in Canada.  But I have now been back at NRAS for 3 months, and it feels like I have never been away!

I am thoroughly enjoying my new role as Helpline Co-ordinator. It was a little daunting at first as we get asked such a wide variety of queries here on the helpline and I am continuing to learn new things every day. So please do bear with me if I feel the need to go and pick the brains of my more experienced colleagues in order to answer your questions to the best of my ability.

I have also had the opportunity to do my fair share of gallivanting (ahem I mean travelling) here at NRAS. In the short time I have been back I have been into London on various training courses, and to attend an educational day for rheumatology specialist nurses, up to Oldham to help host a very successful group launch meeting, and most recently up to the Houses of Parliament for the NRAS Healthcare Champions Award ceremony. This was a huge success and a very exciting night, in such spectacular surroundings. I have also had the great opportunity to spend a day at the Wexham Park Hospital rheumatology clinic, where I was fortunate enough to sit in on a number of consultations, watch a joint injection and grill the specialist nurses about all things RA related. It was a very valuable learning experience.

I am off into London again on Monday to attend the Annual Voluntary Sector Seminar at the British Pain Society, which should be a very interesting day. It’s a wonder I’m ever in the office long enough to take any helpline calls!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Take care,

Sarah Kate