Representatives of patient organisations welcome EiR
A New Year, a New Conference and a New Perspective on presenting Clinical Aspects of Rheumatoid and Auto-immune Disease
1948 at the Mayo Clinic saw the LE cell being identified, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus being diagnosed and steroids being introduced as a treatment for this (then) little-known auto-immune disease.
More than 60 years later, so much more is known about SLE - now more-trendily known as lupus - and the various medications that can be used to treat the many symptoms that can arise. For patients with a long-standing diagnosis, lupus is virtually a different illness to that which they originally presented.
“I am excited by the opportunity to participate in the inaugural meeting of Excellence in Rheumatology. As a representative of people with musculoskeletal conditions, and speaking as someone who grew up living with the impact of juvenile arthritis myself, I am pleased to see the particular focus of this event being on patient outcomes. It is so important to be able to share the clinical applications of the latest knowledge arising from research and extensive experience of internationally renowned experts. Having campaigned and lobbied governments and other policymakers over many years for improved services for patients in the UK and continental Europe, I am sure the discussions at this congress will help focus both the professional health care community and the general public on the needs of people with rheumatic diseases and other musculoskeletal disorders. It will also provide the opportunity to further explore the relationship between patients and clinicians, as clearly by working together on our common goals we are stronger. So, I am eager to see the outcomes of this inaugural event and I am certain that it will succeed in achieving its goals of benefitting the entire rheumatology community, and ultimately therefore patient care. I look forward to continue being an active participant in this annual conference series and to benefit from the important networking opportunities that are presented by such a prestigious and valuable international meeting”.
Neil Betteridge
Chief Executive
Arthritis Care www.arthritiscare.org.uk
“I am so sorry that I cannot be at EiR in Instanbul this year but very much looking forward to being in Madrid next year. I have looked at the website and the concept of this important new rheumatology conference and I congratulate you and your colleagues for putting forward an excellent programme and for focusing on the more clinical aspects of rheumatology care and treatment. Whilst of course we need the science, I think that sometimes the emphasis on the scientific rather than the day to day issues of treating patients in a clinical setting, at international conferences, may contribute to many issues which are important to patients and many rheumatologists being given less attention than should be the case. I wish you every success and look forward to hearing about the conference in due course.”
Ailsa Bosworth
Chief Executive
NRAS - National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society,
www.nras.org.uk
Joint Chair, Rheumatology Futures Group Project
