PRESS RELEASE: Puzzle of positivity

5/11/2024

An artwork representing what matters to people in Drumchapel living with long term conditions will be unveiled at the Phoenix Centre in Drumchapel by Versus Arthritis, the leading charity supporting those with arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in Scotland. The ‘Puzzle of Positivity’, which will be unveiled on Tuesday 5 November, was created by local people in April to highlight the positive things in people’s lives which help them to deal with their health issues, including conditions like arthritis.  

This is part of the charity’s Arthritis Community Health Engagement (ACHE) project, which recently launched a report on its work in Drumchapel. The Putting the Pieces Together in Drumchapel report provides an insight into the services and support needed to make Drumchapel an ‘arthritis-friendly’ community. It highlights the importance of the Community Links Practitioners, locally based self-management groups, alternative approaches to healthcare, and the need to build confidence to get the best out of formal healthcare services.  

At a thank you event for project participants in April, Drumchapel residents contributed their own thoughts on what matters to them in the form of jigsaw puzzle pieces. These have been gathered, framed and the picture will be part of the Phoenix Centre gallery. The presentation will take place on Tuesday 05 November with a photocall at 1.30pm. 

Melissa Hannah, Regional Officer for Versus Arthritis, said: 

“While our ACHE report highlights the issues and challenges facing people living with a condition like arthritis in Drumchapel, we also wanted to focus on the positive things in people’s lives.  

“Whether it’s music, a favourite meal, time with friends, access to nature or being able to sit and talk to people going through the same challenges, these are what matters and need to be put at the centre of how we care for people. The system – GPs, physios, etc – may be a puzzle but it can be a positive one”. 

Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, said:  

"A staggering one in three people in Scotland have arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. I welcome the focused community engagement undertaken by Versus Arthritis to understand lived experiences in Drumchapel. Our community's Puzzle of Positivity ACHE artwork will proudly be displayed in the Phoenix Centre, and I look forward to visiting soon."

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

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About Versus Arthritis 

Versus Arthritis is the UK’s largest arthritis charity, changing lives through research, campaigning and support. Over 10 million people in the UK have arthritis. That’s one in six living with the pain, fatigue and disability it can cause. The impact of arthritis can be huge, affecting the ability to work, care for family, move free from pain and live independently. Together with researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, supporters and volunteers, Versus Arthritis works tirelessly to make sure everyone with arthritis has access to the treatments and support they need to live the life they choose, with real hope of a cure in the future.   

Find out more at: www.versusarthritis.org X: @VersusArthritis @ScotVArthritis 

About ACHE 

Now in its fourth year, the Arthritis Community Health Engagement project is an adaptation of Versus Arthritis Pain People Place work, an engagement project focused on lived experience of MSK-related chronic pain in specific regions of Scotland.  

ACHE is focused, first and foremost, on community and how to engage with local groups and stakeholders to understand lived experiences and generate new thinking and approaches to arthritis and MSK services and support. ACHE informs how Versus Arthritis develops key policy issues facing people with arthritis, e.g.  diagnosis, treatment, health inequalities and NHS recovery and reform.