Developing the allied health professionals workforce within mental health, learning disability and autism inpatient services: rapid review of learning from quality and safety incidents.

Background: Allied health professionals (AHPs) in inpatient mental health, learning disability and autism services work in cultures dominated by other professions who often poorly understand their roles. Furthermore, identified learning from safety incidents often lacks focus on AHPs and research is needed to understand how AHPs contribute to safe care in these services.

Methods: A rapid literature review was conducted on material published from February 2014 to February 2024, reporting safety incidents within adult inpatient mental health, learning disability and autism services in England, with identifiable learning for AHPs.

Contribution of inflammation markers and quantitative sensory testing (QST) indices of central sensitisation to rheumatoid arthritis pain.

Background: Pain, the primary complaint in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is multifaceted, and may be driven by inflammatory disease activity and central sensitisation. We aimed to ascertain what proportion of RA pain severity is explained by markers of inflammation and quantitative sensory testing (QST) indices of central sensitisation.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from individuals with clinically active RA.

Undergraduate rheumatology teaching in the UK: a survey of current practice by teachers and students.

Objectives: The last major UK survey of medical undergraduate rheumatology teaching was 25 years ago. This study aimed to describe current teaching practice, the perceptions of teachers and students and their engagement with Versus Arthritis teaching resources and future challenges and opportunities.

Methods: Electronic surveys were distributed by e-mail and/or social media to relevant teachers and students identified within all 37 UK medical schools.

Integrating point-of-care ultrasound into rheumatology practice.

A scenario‑based probability approach integrating point‑of‑care rheumatology ultrasound (POCRUS) into rheumatology practice has recently been proposed as a teaching methodology to encourage greater awareness of US among practicing clinicians, especially with respect to the management of overlapping clinical conditions. This article reviews the rheumatological areas where application of POCRUS substantially enhances clinical reasoning to confirm or exclude target conditions. It highlights the definitions of US‑detected pathologies in rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthritis, gout and crystal arthritis, osteoarthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica, and discusses the added value of POCRUS in diagnosing these conditions.