19 December 2024
The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) has submitted its response to the Department of Health and Social Care’s NHS 10-Year Plan consultation, emphasising the steps needed to support people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
The Plan, expected in spring 2025, will address three critical shifts for the NHS: delivering more care in community settings, integrating advanced technology and prioritising prevention over treatment.
Our response underlines the importance of supporting individuals with rheumatic conditions to live fulfilling lives, regardless of age or circumstances. Drawing on evidence from the recent BSR National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA) State of the Nation Report 2024, we have highlighted the link between longer referral-to-treatment delays and reduced remission rates, which in turn significantly diminish patients' quality of life. Additionally, we noted a concerning trend over the past five years: an increase in patient-reported mental health symptoms among those struggling with employment challenges.
Our submission, informed by our trustees and members, outlines the following key priorities:
- Strengthening the workforce: Ensure training and recruitment for a sustainable rheumatology workforce to meet growing demand.
- A focus on care for young patients: Prioritise children, adolescents, and young adults with rheumatic conditions to improve lifelong outcomes.
- Reforming primary care: Reset funding, training, and service provision to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment.
- Integrating mental health and employment support: Embed mental health services and employment advisors into rheumatology pathways to address the broad impact of rheumatic conditions.
- Resolving systemic challenges: Address IT inefficiencies and medicines supply shortages to streamline and improve patient care.
These recommendations aim to ensure rheumatology care progresses in line with the NHS’s vision for the next decade, ultimately improving outcomes for millions of people with rheumatic conditions
Read our full response to learn more about BSR’s vision and recommendations for the future of rheumatology care.