Consultant Physiotherapist, Dr Carol McCrum has been awarded a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Fellowship.
In her role, Carol helps to raise awareness and support the implementation of the NICE guideline on Spondyloarthritis, a group of inflammatory conditions which can affect the spine, joint and tendons.
Consultant Physiotherapist, Dr Carol McCrum
The fellowship also aims to raise awareness and engagement in NICE’s work and provides resources to support quality care, service evaluations and improvements.
Dr Carol McCrum said: “I was delighted to be awarded a NICE Fellowship. I am very keen to help reduce the delay in diagnosis that has been experienced by many people despite advances in imaging and treatment. These conditions can be challenging to recognise and often mistaken as chronic back pain, joint or tendon problems. Early diagnosis and treatment is important to reduce the impacts, and so recognising the signs, symptoms and risk factors can help earlier referral to rheumatology for assessment and investigation. Treatment can include medication if needed, along with physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry, plus supporting self- management with exercise and other strategies.
Following research undertaken at the Trust, I have developed a clinical guide leaflet to support clinicians which has been endorsed by NICE and is available on the Trust and NICE websites. Nick Taylor, from our Medical Photography was extremely helpful in its development. It provides a resource to raise awareness and help with education across the NHS about the condition. I was delighted to find out recently it was shown as an example in a presentation to MPs at the House of Commons.
NICE also has an extensive area on its website with tools and resources, podcasts and supporting evidence searches. There are other opportunities to be involved in the work of NICE, such as commenting on draft guidelines and quality standards, being on an advisory group and or sharing examples of improved practice using guidance or quality standards.”
In May, Carol will speak at the national Primary Care and Public Health Conference on recognition and referral for suspected Spondyloarthritis.
NICE Fellows help to improve the quality of care delivered and encourage the adoption of cost-effective innovation. When there are gaps in the research, NICE also makes research recommendations to help build evidence to support the most effective care.
Fellows work with NICE to improve the quality of care and to contribute to their own professional development. NICE Fellows:
- are experienced leaders in the field of health and social care
- are NICE ambassadors at a regional and national level and among their professional groups and peers. develop new ways of working in health and social care
- help to speed up the spread of best practice and reducing variation in the quality of care means better results for patients
- build networks of influential professionals who support NICE in the implementation of its guidance
- support and maintain the connection between NICE and health and social care experts.