Yes thought that might catch your eye!
Firstly I would like to say thank you to so many of you for completing the NRAS online survey on emotions and relationships. Tomorrow Friday 18th is the closing date for completed questionnaires and a staggering 1486 people have taken part in the survey so far. Your answers will send a powerful message to all those involved in your care, that RA can have impacts far beyond the physical manifestations of the disease itself. Your candid responses have been emotional to read to say the least and I thank you for being so open on such sensitive issues. There is a great deal of analysis to do now to enable us to address as many of the issues you’ve raised as is possible in the new NRAS booklet on the topic to be published in late spring.
As well as working on this important piece of work my team are busy planning for two new groups to be launched in spring in Basingstoke and Cambridge. Visit the NRAS websitewww.nras.org.uk/groups for full information on these and all NRAS group meetings. We are also planning regional volunteer training days in April and May to empower and engage our wonderful NRAS volunteers across the UK.
So what else is coming up for me this first quarter? There are many meetings to look forward to – Long Term Conditions Alliance conference; a NICE workshop on drugs' technology appraisals; a visit to the North Wales ARMA network then off to Manchester to present to North West consultants, registrars etc. on “What do patients want?”; Royal College of Nursing Rheumatology conference in Edinburgh and of course the big British Society of Rheumatology conference in Birmingham at the end of April.
Just for fun though I am also directing a local church pantomime, oh yes I am, and taking part in a charity dance show so it isn’t all work and no play.
As I close my first 2013 blog I’d like to wish you all a Happy & Health New Year.
Clare Jacklin
NRAS Director of External Affairs
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