Talking Rheumatology Spotlight

How can rheumatology be more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ people? And how can we ensure that research truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve?

In this episode of our Patient Voices series, Dr Chris Wincup is joined by Dr Simone Battista, University of Salford, and international patient expert Grayson Schultz to explore these important questions. Together, they discuss why the language we use matters, how clinicians and patients can work in partnership to create more inclusive care, and what practical steps can help make clinics welcoming environments for everyone. Drawing on personal experiences and professional expertise, they consider how research, clinical practice, and patient engagement can contribute to a more inclusive future for rheumatology.
Useful Resources:
National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
LGBTQIA+ Glossary of Terms for Health Care Teams
Guidelines for collecting patient data on sexual orientation and gender identity

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BSR is the UK's leading specialist medical society for rheumatology and MSK health professionals. To discover how we can support you in delivering the best care for your patients, visit our website.

Have you ever considered how you can make your clinics more inclusive for neurodiverse individuals? What can we learn from our neurodiverse colleagues and patients?
 
In the third episode of our patient voices series, consultant rheumatology nurse, Di Finney & Professor Yeliz Prior discuss the topic of neurodiversity in rheumatology care with Dr Roz Benson. This conversation considers how someone with neurodiversity may present differently in clinic, approaches to tailoring management plans and how thinking about the physical environment can help enable better care. They share communication techniques drawing on lived experience and ideas on how we can better our clinical practice.
Useful resources:
Disability Justice, Lived Experience & Media – Neurodiversity Voices Podcast
Episode 2 – Holly Dale & Dr Mairi Evans (Neurotypes)

Episode 1, part 2 – Tani Prindiville & Dr Mairi Evans (Neurotypes)
Neurotypes Podcast on Apple Podcasts
The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast (subscribe on Apple Podcasts)
Thanks for listening to Talking Rheumatology! Join the conversation on X using #TalkingRheum or tweet us @RheumatologyUK.

BSR is the UK's leading specialist medical society for rheumatology and MSK health professionals. To discover how we can support you in delivering the best care for your patients, visit our website.

How do we talk to patients about work and what does employment really look like when you’re living with a rheumatological condition? In the first episode of our Patient Voices series, Dr Lizzy Macphie, Consultant Rheumatologist, is joined by patient partners Dr Simon Stones, EULAR PARE Committee Chair, and Georgia Bishop, BSR Education Executive. 
Together, they explore the realities of building and sustaining a career while managing long-term illness, drawing on their own experiences of shaping careers around childhood diagnoses. They discuss the highs and lows of working life, share practical advice for both patients and healthcare teams, and highlight how rheumatology professionals can better support people navigating the world of work.
Useful resoruces:
Access to Work scheme 
Arthritis UK work & benefits 
Arthur's Place work survival guide 
NRAS work related resources 
 Advice about benefits
Advice about PIP 
Advice about Universal Credit 
Thanks for listening to Talking Rheumatology! Join the conversation on X using #TalkingRheum or tweet us @RheumatologyUK.

BSR is the UK's leading specialist medical society for rheumatology and MSK health professionals. To discover how we can support you in delivering the best care for your patients, visit our website.

Do you feel confident talking to people with rheumatic diseases about exercise? and what if your patient is a two-time Winter Olympian?
In this next episode of our Patient Voices series host, Will Gregory, consultant physiotherapist, is joined by Charlie Guest,international alpine skier and two-time Winter Olympian, and Claire Pidgeon,paediatric and adolescent rheumatology occupational therapist. Together, they discuss elite sport to everyday movement, discussing the challenges, opportunities, and practical strategies for encouraging patients' participation in exercise as well as how to support children and young people to stay active after a rheumatological diagnosis.
Useful resources:
Effectiveness and safety of high-intensity exercise in rheumatic diseases—friend or foe? A systematic review
The Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity in Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases – a Narrative Review 
Thanks for listening to Talking Rheumatology! Join the conversation on X using #TalkingRheum or tweet us @RheumatologyUK.

BSR is the UK's leading specialist medical society for rheumatology and MSK health professionals. To discover how we can support you in delivering the best care for your patients, visit our website.

Dr Roz Benson, consultant rheumatologist talks to Dr Nicholas Aquilina, a rheumatology trainee from Malta, about an unusual cause of neck pain which left undiagnosed can have serious sequela. 
Thanks for listening to Talking Rheumatology! Join the conversation on X using #TalkingRheum or tweet us @RheumatologyUK.

BSR is the UK's leading specialist medical society for rheumatology and MSK health professionals. To discover how we can support you in delivering the best care for your patients, visit our website.