Talking Rheumatology Spotlight

How can we ensure that our clinic letters communicate clearly and effectively with patients? What impact does a patient's health literacy have on the language we use and the information we include?
In this episode of Patient Voices, Digital Learning Editor Dr Roz Benson is joined by patient partner Karen Staniland, academic trainee Dr Mrinalini Dey & consultant rheumatologists Dr Ceril Rhys-Dillon and Dr Charlotte Sharp.
Together, they explore the evolving role of the clinic letter and the growing evidence supporting the practice of writing directly to patients. Drawing on their professional and personal experiences, the guests share practical tips for making clinic correspondence more accessible, meaningful and patient-centred.
The discussion also examines ways to assess health literacy in routine clinical practice and considers how digital technology can support clearer communication and improve patient understanding.

Useful resources:

BSR resources for writing to patients - https://www.rheumatology.org.uk/improving-care/registers/service-guidance/best-practice/writing-to-patients 

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 about risk in a way that is honest, balanced and easy to understand? And what happens when the third person in the consultation room is Dr AI?

In this latest episode of Patient Voices, host Dr Yik Man is joined by Dalila Tremarias, patient partner and advocate, and Dr Katie Bechman, Consultant Rheumatologist and Epidemiologist, for a thought-provoking discussion on communication, trust and decision-making in modern healthcare.
Together, they explore the central role of the patient-clinician relationship, how we discuss treatment risks and benefits, and the challenges of navigating health information in an era shaped by social media, misinformation and rapidly evolving technology. 

The conversation also considers the opportunities and pitfalls of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and how we can harness its potential to support, rather than replace, meaningful human connections in clinical care.  A fascinating episode for clinicians, patients and anyone interested in the future of healthcare communication.

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 Lilase Hakoun, paediatric rheumatology trainee, talks with Dr Charalampia Papadopoulou about JDM. They explore together a rare but important condition. Approaches to diagnosis and evidence based  management are discussed including the hot topics of research in the field.  Not just for the paediatric audience, a great listen for all those working with adults too!

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.

Have you ever thought about what meaningful patient engagement in a project looks like? Are you keen to work with patients in QI projects and research but don't know where to start? 

In this next episode of the patient voices series Lynn Laidlaw, experienced public partner and peer researcher, and Dr Charlotte Sharp, an academic Rheumatologist, talk to Dr Roz Benson about co-production and patient and public involvement in rheumatology. They discuss examples from grass roots projects to large scale national initiatives and their experiences along the way. 

After listening you'll fing yourself challenged to find a reason why you shouldn't be working to involve patients in your projects from the beginning!

Resources:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10036989/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBSJKMYNOaw

https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3453

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.

In this conversation Dr Ashley Elliot talks with Dr Mark McClure, Consultant Nephrologist, based in Belfast. This wide ranging evidenced based conversation spans a comprehensive update in approach to treatment of renal vasculitis to some of the current controversies around avacopan and plasma exchange. A timely discussion! 

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.

Hosted by Julie Begum, this podcast explores an MDT conversation on ways to support people experiencing a flare. The conversation covers:

• How a flare, one of the commonest reasons for contacting the advice line, can be managed
• Self-management advice that patients in a flare can be given during a telephone consultation

Contributors include Ailsa Bosworth MBE, Jade Skeates and Prof Samantha Hider and this podcast on Flare Management forms part of the wider BSR Nurse Advice Line learning resources.  

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 ever find you’re asked questions by patients that you don’t know the answer to? Have you wondered what patient organisations can do support people with rheumatic diseases?

 In this next episode of the Patient Voices series, join our host Dr Vanessa Quick, consultant rheumatologist and trustee of PMRGCAuk, as she talks with Sue Farrington, CEO of SRUK, & Kate Middleton, founder of the Wren project. 

Their discussion covers the varying roles of the patient organisation from the grass roots level of patient support groups and sharing lived experience through member forums to providing a voice at national level lobbying for improved care for people with rheumatic disease. The importance of their role shines through the conversation. 

Useful resources:

The Wren Project

SRUK

PMRGCAuk

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 Chris Wincup talks to Dr Shiza Ahmed & Professor Abhishek Abhishek in this bonus case episode. They discuss an unusual case of acute back pain & reduced mobility. Can you work out the diagnosis?

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 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

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.

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.