Week Ending 7th August

Brynmor
Brynmor Member Posts: 1,755
edited 7. Feb 2023, 09:48 in News Archive

No Week Ending last week as we picked one of the worst times for local bad weather to have some time off. However, now that the rain and wind has all eased, we seem to have double the population of garden butterflies compared to last year.

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1. Featured Story - New Series

In a new series, we are highlighting a Featured Story from our web site to highlight the very personal effects arthritis has on people. We start with Indra, who’s in her 40s, lives with multiple conditions including psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia. Here she tells us about the huge impact arthritis has had on her life and why she thinks raising more awareness of all conditions is so important.

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2. Why Are We Waiting?

With appointments, treatments and joint replacement surgery delayed, thousands of people have been left waiting in pain with no clear idea of when things will return to normal.

It has been a subject with our members who are reporting difficulties in getting appointments and the support they need to help them.

Join our Impossible to Ignore campaign calling on all UK governments to make sure the needs of people with arthritis are addressed as they plan to restart NHS services.


3. London Travel

When we went to London back in January, it was the first time I had visited the capital in many years. As someone who lives in a small town on the north Wales coast, the city to me was quite extraordinary - having a countdown to pedestrian lights changing isn't something I had seen before... and as for the traffic!

Using the Underground was as I remembered it, but finding the way around its maze of entrances, links and stations without having planned beforehand was a challenge. We could have done with the new app from Transport for London, called TfL Go (Apple iOS only, Android version coming soon!)

The key highlight is that it has a step-free mode for planning accessible journeys - in the future it will also have information on toilet availability, platform access and live lift status.

Here's more from Katie Pennick, disability travel campaigner posting on Twitter (includes a video of using the app)


4. Exercise and arthritis - A Facebook Live Event

Versus Arthritis hosted a Live Facebook Event  on Wednesday 29th July. We were joined by Dr Benjamin Ellis, Consultant Rheumatologist and Clinical Policy Advisor at Versus Arthritis, and Lili John, who lives with arthritis and has recently taken part in our 10,000 Steps Every Day in June challenge.

Mentioned in the session and posted in the comments was a link to the NHS Apps Library. Well worth a look.


5. Face-To-Face Services from Versus Arthritis

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While we aren't running our Face-To-Face Services at the moment, some of our groups are still meeting regularly. Find out what’s going on where you are and how Versus Arthritis offers help and support across the UK.


6. Versus Arthritis Chatbot AVA

It’s hard to find the right information and advice at the right time when you need help. You can chat to the arthritis virtual assistant and get fast, easy access to our trusted information, 24/7.

AVA has now been featured in an article about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it means for humanity. A very interesting read outlining a few of the possibilities that AI can provide and where Versus Arthritis is at the leading edge of these developments.


As always, don't forget to keep up to date with the latest advice on the Coronavirus with the latest updates on shielding advice and links to your country within the UK.

Stay safe, stay well.

Brynmor

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