2017 Work Survey: Manchester Roundtable Discussion

[EmmaS-NRAS]

11th August 2016, Manchester McDonald Hotel

2.30-4pm and 4.30-6pm

It has been almost a decade since our 2007 survey on work and RA. (nras.org.uk/publications/i-.... In light of this we are planning to follow up with a 2017 national work survey. This will provide us with a national picture of what has changed over the past 10 years and help us to campaign with the most up to date information. The findings should highlight what has improved as well as identifying ongoing issues around work. This will be invaluable in understanding the relationship between RA and work from the patient perspective.

Since the last study, there have been changes to treatment such as the increased availability of biologics; updates in employment law; and the benefits system and the survey/subsequent report could look at the impact of these.

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society are hosting a roundtable discussion on Thursday 11th August 2016. We would like to invite you to participate and help shape the survey questions.

This will be an opportunity for us to find out the issues which are most important to you and to further understand your experiences of employers, colleagues, and the day to day of work. We would like to hear the experiences of people who have Rheumatoid Arthritis or Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, whether in work, currently unemployed or retired. This will help us to determine how to best structure our survey around your experiences.

We will be holding two groups, from 2.30 to 4pm and from 4.30 to 6pm. Please let us know by including which group suits you when you contact us.

The details are as follows:

Date: Thursday 11th August 2016

Venue: Meeting Room 5, Manchester McDonald Hotel (5 minutes’ walk from Manchester Piccadilly station)

Start Time: 2.30pm (Group 1) and 4.30pm (Group 2) (Refreshments will be provided)

Finish Time: 4pm (Group 1) and 6pm (Group 2)

We would be grateful if you could RSVP by calling on our NRAS phone number

at 01628 823 524 or contact us by email at [e-mail]. Preferably this would be by midday on Wednesday, 10th August 2016.

We do hope that some of our HU community will be able to attend.

Kind regards

Emma