Nass.co.uk - Homepage of National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society
Title
Ankylosing Spondylitis NASS Home Page
Description
NASS was founded by patients, doctors and physiotherapists in 1975 at The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath. The hospital was (and still is) treating groups of patients on a three week (now two) intensive physiotherapy programme. The early groups of patients realised the value of patient education which they were receiving through wide-ranging discussions between themselves and the medical staff. They were therefore stimulated to form a committee of a society whose main objective, through various ways, would influence a better disease outcome in their fellow spondylitics. The society has attracted over 15,000 members since 1975, and over 8,000 of them are still active members.
NASS has also been instrumental in the foundation of similar societies in 25 different countries. They have formed themselves into a world-wide special interest group (the Ankylosing Spondylitis International Federation: ASIF). The NASS Director is also the President of that group. - return to top
NASS produces and distributes to rheumatologists and physiotherapists a 24 page "Guidebook for Patients". (Download PDF Copy in Zip File)The society has donated over 110,000 of these books and continues to receive daily requests from hospitals and individuals. - return to top
