British Society for Rheumatology 2026

Debbie and Katy return exhausted but energised after three intense days at the British Society for Rheumatology Conference in Glasgow,marking Inflammatory Arthritis UK’s first-ever national conference appearance.In this episode, they unpack what it meant to show up as a young charity, the powerful conversations they had with clinicians, researchers, and other charities, and the surprising innovations they discovered, from robotic ultrasounds to smarter blood monitoring systems.

This is an honest, behind‑the‑scenes look at what happens when lived experience meets the wider rheumatology community and how much appetite there is for patient voice, collaboration, and change.

“This gives us insights into what happens outside that clinic door and beyond the self‑management side.”

Key Topics

• Our first national conference as a charity

• Meeting the wider rheumatology community
• Why clinicians are listening to the podcast
• The challenge of medication names
• The transition gap for young people (16–18)
• Admin frustrations & homecare inequalities
• New technologies on the horizon
• Research culture is changing
• PPIE (Public & Patient Involvement and Engagement)

Useful Resources & Links

• Inflammatory Arthritis UK – sign up for the newsletter: inflammatoryarthritis.org
• Follow IAUK on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and BlueSky
• Previous episode on NHS admin challenges (referenced by clinicians at the conference)
• Upcoming guest: Dr Rosemary Hollick on research, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis

Disclaimer: Debbie and Katy are not medical professionals. They share personal experiences of living with IA to build connection and community. The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content.

· For more information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/