Working when you have rheumatic disease: challenges, rights, and realities

How do we talk to patients about work and what does employment really look like when you’re living with a rheumatological condition? In the first episode of our Patient Voices series, Dr Lizzy Macphie, Consultant Rheumatologist, is joined by patient partners Dr Simon Stones, EULAR PARE Committee Chair, and Georgia Bishop, BSR Education Executive. 
Together, they explore the realities of building and sustaining a career while managing long-term illness, drawing on their own experiences of shaping careers around childhood diagnoses. They discuss the highs and lows of working life, share practical advice for both patients and healthcare teams, and highlight how rheumatology professionals can better support people navigating the world of work.

Useful resoruces:

Access to Work scheme 

Arthritis UK work & benefits 

Arthur's Place work survival guide 

NRAS work related resources 

 Advice about benefits

Advice about PIP 

Advice about Universal Credit 

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BSR is the UK's leading specialist medical society for rheumatology and MSK health professionals. To discover how we can support you in delivering the best care for your patients, visit our website.