New support group for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in Rugby

The NRAS website has lots of advice and tips

The group will give people with RA and their families the opportunity to discuss the care and support which is available, ask questions and learn more about the steps they can take to manage their RA more effectively.

It will launch during an information evening taking place at Rugby College on March 1.

Representatives from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) will host the event, while an expert panel from University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire rheumatology teams, including consultant rheumatologist Dr Shirish Dubey, will be on hand to answer questions.

More than 5,000 people in Warwickshire alone are estimated to have RA, and many more are affected by it.

This group will provide an opportunity for everyone to discuss the care and support which is available locally.

In a recent survey by NRAS, 94% of people with RA said they felt frustrated by their disease, 80% felt anxious and 51% reported feelings of loneliness – understandable as RA can be isolating, often leaving people confined to their house.

NRAS groups help change that by bringing people together, letting them know they’re not alone, and allowing them to learn more about what can be done to manage their RA more effectively.

Ailsa Bosworth, chief executive of NRAS, and an RA patient, said: “These group meetings provide valuable information on how to make effective use of local care services. They also offer an opportunity for people with rheumatoid arthritis to meet others with the same condition and share experiences.”

The information evening takes place Tuesday, March 1 at the Business Centre, Rugby College, Technology Drive, Rugby.

It starts at 6.30pm.

To confirm your attendance, call NRAS on 01628 823 524 or email [email protected] by Friday, February 26. Please note spaces are limited.

The NRAS network is made up of support groups all across the UK, members of which all have rheumatoid arthritis themselves so understand exactly what it is like to have the condition.