NEWS

August 2009

Work is an important part of all our lives and should be accessible to people with rheumatic disease.

Get involved for World Arthritis Day http://www.worldarthritisday.org/ 2009 - share your inspiring images and stories of working with rheumatic disease. Visit our online photo gallery and competition http://www.worldarthritisday.org/picturethis/index.php

Give your perspectives and experiences of work - for people with rheumatic disease and make your voice heard. The survey aims to find positive ways in which health professionals, employers and people with rheumatic diseases and can work together and bring this important discussion and dialogue to the media and policy makers.

Share your views about work and rheumatic disease now by filling in the Let’s Work Together online survey http://www.worldarthritisday.org/survey.php
 
Encourage your friends and colleagues to log on, view the gallery and fill in the survey too.  

We are now acting as a patient forum group for our local rheumatology department at 'Torbay Hospital', Torquay in Devon. We have had a lot of discussion with Dr. Viner and his colleagues about the most effective way we can help. Our role is developing all the time and we are looking at a number of projects that specifically support people with arthritis as they navigate their way through the medical maze.

• We are running a local support group for people with arthritis. Our meetings are open to anyone who has arthritis, some people are referred to us by the rheumatology department at Torbay Hospital and others by word of mouth. Our aim is to give support to others who have arthritis and especially to people newly diagnosed with the condition.
  We are running a support group on the first Thursday of each month. Email us for more details
  
  If you have arthritis and live near Torquay in Devon you are welcome to come along and meet up with other people who have arthritis. Contact us info@arthritisforum.org.uk and we'll give you more details about the group.
  
  
• Consultation - We are consulted with about various aspects of our health care and can offer some weight behind applications for funding bids made by the rheumatology department.
  
  
• Participation at training events - We are looking to participate in training sessions with nurses and health care workers to share first-hand experiences with hospital staff about being in hospital and about the problems we faced both during our stay and later recuperating at home.