3 wasted years
A new report from Arthritis Care, that reveals the lack of progress made in improving rheumatoid arthritis (RA) services, was launched yesterday at a reception in parliament. Three wasted years is based on our survey of patients, clinicians and commissioners on the quality of RA services in their local area. It also makes 20 of policy recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for people with RA.
The findings of the survey reveal that more than half of people with RA have to visit their GP on more than three occasions before being referred to a specialist for assessment and treatment. In addition, 75% of the healthcare professionals felt that RA services are not being sufficiently prioritised by the NHS.
Not only are improved services vital for people with RA, it is important for the NHS too: the cost of musculoskeletal conditions are now the fourth highest area of NHS spend, and rising. Not getting treatment right first time for people is an expensive business.

If you go ino the Arthritis Care website, you can read the whole report. Is's fascinating.

We have a fabulous unit in Telford and Wrekin. They moved out of the hospital complex and across town to their own building with two consultants and one RA nurse. If you ring, you normally get to speak to the RA nurse on the same day and she will always see you in an emergency. Luckily for me the unit is three minutes around the corner for me from work. The spearhead of getting this unit up and running is one of our local GP's who suffers from RA herself. I think this speaks volumes. If all the decision makers in the NHS suffered from the diseases who are lacking in care, it would certainly be a different picture.

I so wish I could share our unit out to all of you. If the NHS can do it in one region, why can't they do the same in others?

Jackie
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I think when the nhs was changed into primary care trusts (pcts) with local budgets etc, some areas of care not as important in some areas, leaving for example arthritis care coverlooked in turn people are not having the quick care/medications and left to wait.

My doctor was slow to take me serious I wasn't functioning with my body (stiffening up) after having my daughter. However, once bloods were done it was quick to get me in to gwh Swindon rheumy. They have been fantastic to me, listened to my concerns, put up with my tears, laughed along with my funny stories of my experiences of ra and me!

Got letter today for appointment to. See them next year.

Where I live, the consultant travels to Devizes and Marlborough hospitals, so traveling time is good for me.
Also, when I ring ra helpline they try to get me into one of the local hospitals for steriod injections.

Shame nhs doesn't give same high care to all - equally.
Aaaaahhhh so sad.

Jane
Xxx

My initial experience with GPs not listening to me was appalling. I complained of severe fatigue and joint pains for 3 whole years and kept being told there was nothing wrong with me or that it was a normal part of ageing. I KNEW they were wrong on the ageing thing (I was in my mid forties) because my peers were not in the same boat as me. I even said I thought I had RA after looking up my symptoms. It took a massive flare up with me being barely able to move at all before I was referred to the hospital. since then the care has been OK, although I don't really know what to compare it with. I do think the nurse helpline, open weekday afternoons is fantastic though. On most occasions I've got through immediately and on a few occasions within half an hour. Knowing that this is available, especially as I had such a frightening experience with the huge flare up last year, really puts my mind at rest. I think the physio could have been put in place more quickly (it took 9 months from diagnosis) and I'm still waiting for a podiatry appointment (1 year from diagnosis!) but my OT has been brilliant. A rather mixed bad from me then. I'm so glad that NRAS is fighting to bring these issues onto the agenda.