You may have seen that NRAS is launching a chatbot on our website next week. For those that don't know what that means, a chatbot is an automated system to answer common questions.
We will be starting with questions mostly around RA and COVID-19 but will expand. I hope to update it monthly with further questions as they come up.
I am hoping you can help me out by letting me know what questions you have had, including the answers you have found, if you have found them. Even if you see someone has posted a similar question could you include your version as I need to train the chatbot to recognise variations of the same question. As 2 of us have been writing all the variations, I am feeling they sound similar.
I am also interested in the first question the drew you to NRAS website, helpline, social media or this community. I know all the information is there, it is just difficult to navigate sometimes, so the aim of the chatbot is to simplify matters
Sorry if it seems negative. I hate the impersonal feeling of them. I’d rather use google or bing than a chatbot.
A helpline at least gives you a real person to converse with even if not face to face.
And many people using the NRAS community on here, have very useful input. I really don’t much like online communities either as they are anonymous and we cannot be sure we are speaking with real sufferers and not those out to find personal information.
NRAS live question chats seem popular though, with local NRAS groups.
There is some choice for those not keen on chatbots but the latter will no doubt have a place too.
I think that's a good idea - I frequently advise people to put their query into the search box as it has been asked before.
I would like clarification on shielding . I’m on a Biologic and methotrexate and work in a school.. is it safe? I have had a shielding text and my gp regularly checks up on me as they think I should be shielding I’m not on the government list?
Hi. I’m not on the list either. Similar treatments to you. I read online that we would have been initially , but the list of people got so long, that they ended up reducing it to only those taking 3 ( not2) drugs. Usually steroids.
🙄typical. I can’t have any face 2 face appointments with gp or consultant and no physio as its not safe. So where’s the consistency. Hope NRAS can help
It’s very tricky situation for you , with working in a school. I don’t get out much now & also carer fir my daughter with severe ME, so I haven’t had that worry. Hope you’re able to get some advice. 💕
Well she’s lucky then, unless you’re seriously ill and need to be seen in person then it’s a phone or video call here.
• in reply to
hi J1707
Thanks for this. in case you need an answer to this question, here it is.
According to the BSR you fit into the middle group that needs to self-isolate or maintain social distance at their
discretion, rather than the shielding group
Their classification hasn't changed, just made the use of high dose steroids the first medication of concern.
Some GPs and rheumatology clinics have been cautious with their clients who they know better than an algorithm can, and recommended shielding. They then sent their lists to the NHS who assessed them and decided if they agreed with the assessment to shield. They then notified those they also considered to be extremely vulnerable. This has caused lots of confusion as people have been shielding because they were told to now they are told they didn't have to do it, some GPs are now refusing to send any confirmation that they advised them to shield
You can not possibly just blanket answer who should fit in to a shield/isolate category from a list of drugs.....without full clinical details of a person’s individual health situation.
Two people on the same drugs could fit in completely different categories.
On paper I would be categorised as needing to Shield, but my rheumatologist who has treated me for 16 years, confirms I don’t need to.
Whose opinion should be taken...clinician or tick box?
The latter could lead to even more anxiety for people ,who for whatever reason, feel they are in the wrong category.
On the whole GPs are not intimately involved with their rheumatology patients treatment, so cannot really know which group they fit in.
The mess that has been created by all the different societies having different solutions, needs to be sorted out & a definitive decision should be arrived at should such answers ever be needed again.
Maybe a patient vulnerability card...to be kept by the patient, & kept up to date by rheumy at consultations.
This is why we are referring only to the BSR (British Society for Rheumatology) guidelines and do not have out own. I believe all other patient societies, as well as all rheumatologists are referring to this stratification matrix. These guidelines are based on the EULAR (European league against rheumatism) guidelines so that there is consistency is throughout Europe.
This thread is about the chatbot. I would be grateful if we can keep it to this topic on this thread
Yes on the NRAS website and on hu. ! ! Mainly suggested painkillers, ice cold packs, talking to rheumy team , that the team may prescribe steroid to get you over the 1st three months till mtx was helping .
Ask for help from occupational therapist and physio.
If you have a very limited budget, then of course it is better to apply for this type of services to small teams or freelancers. The speed of development will be many times lower. But the cost of development will be less. I would advise you to contact companies that specialize in the development of such chat bots. Here is a ChatBot Development company owlab.group/case-studies/re... which can easily cope with the task. We are a regular customers of this company. All the services that we ordered from them are very satisfied.
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Navigating the new community
More questions....
MSD RA Patient Survey - Message From Clare Jacklin
