Minutes of Meeting Cross-Party Group Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions Wednesday 21 February 2022 6.30pm-8pm Convenor Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP Present MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP Rachael Hamilton MSP Emma Roddick MSP Non-MSP Group Members Murray Brown Sue Cole Richard Cuthbert Sharon Douglas Dr Margaret Mary-Gordon Dorothy Grace Elder Dr Rosemary Hollick Professor Colin Howie Dr Alan Madonald Maureen McAllister Eddie McGill Alan McGinlay Roma Menlowe Lorna Neil John Paton Professor Duncan Porter Professor Stefan Siebert Jenny Snell Anne Simpson Dr Louise Wilson Apologies Lauren Bennie Paul Cockburn Ali Doyle Andrew Fell Graeme Rose Carol Williams Agenda Item 1 Welcome and Housekeeping Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP , as Group Convenor ,welcomed everyone to this first meeting since the re- registration of the Group in September 2021.The meeting was declared quorate with MSP members thanked for their attendance and support Item 2 Approval of minutes of 22 September 2021 Draft minutes circulated -no corrections had been received-minutes approved Item 3 To consider applications to join the Group Paul Cockburn Scottish Committee for Orthopaedic and Trauma/Mr Alastair Murray Galapagos Imogen Kelly NHS Lothian/Scottish Paediatric and Adol;escent Network All applications approved Item 4 Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions in Scotland-the current state of the nation Convenor welcomed all speakers • Rheumatology services in crisis:"the fierce urgency of now" Dr Rosemary Hollick, Senior Clinical Lecturer,University of Aberdeen and Honorary Consultant, University of Aberdeen Dr Alan Macdonald, Scottish Society of Rheumatology and Consultant Rheumatologist NHS Grampian Dr Hollick began by acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic has driven innovation and rapid advances and adaptations in healthcare…but it has also exacerbated existing weaknesses in health systems and brouhgt some to the point of collapse.