Let's talk about sex baby....!

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 website 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

[Hidden]

So where's the sex bit??? Looks like you've all been working hard on our behalf! A very happy new year to you too, Luce x

[_andy_ in reply to Hidden]

just what i thought ..... i think .. we`ve been tricked .. boo boo ..

keep up the good work n thank you ..

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Ah the sex bit is in the survey on emotions and relationships....but I got you ready my blog...crafty eh?

[Tricia-P]

Must be a sexy panto then Clare.

Is this you starting to rev up for the year or just a quiet month... Oh no it's not!!! Lolxxx

Good luck with the surveys.

Can we have a group in Stratford on Avon I promise my help Oh Oh !!!

Tricia P

xxx

[Hidden in reply to Tricia-P]

Hi Tricia

There are many areas we'd like to see NRAS groups starting in. Why not drop me an email at [e-mail] and we can discuss possibilities and what needs to happen. Quite alot of planning occurs beforehand and getting the rheumatology team on board can sometimes take time.

The NRAS Staff and family did a panto for charity recently and you will have to judge how sexy the panto was by watching it via nras.org.uk/panto.....see Lorraine our Helpline manager as the lovely Fairy Godmother and one of our trustees as the wicked stepmother! Hilariious but sexy.....hardly! The one I'm doing for our church is FAR from raunchy...very straight laced! HA.

Enjoy

[petalnumber2]

Hi Clare, what a busy bee you are, I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas (seems a long time ago) and a chance to recharge your batteries. Happy new year to you and all at NRAS petalnumber2 xx

[Hidden]

Pleased that NRAS is keeping up its good work and well done on the pantomine x