13 February 2025
The British Society for Rheumatology warmly welcomes today's publication of findings from a national enquiry into JIA care and fully supports each of its 8 recommendations.
The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) JIA investigation has found pockets of excellent practice across England but also room for improvement. The report confirms that timely diagnosis, prompt referral, and early access to medication can transform the outcomes and experience of a young person and their family. The findings provide clear evidence that young people with JIA must have their medical, psychological and social needs supported in an age-appropriate way with access to the right professionals in the right setting. The report once more shines a light on the vital point of transition from paediatric to adult rheumatology care and shows there is still a way to go to achieve uniform excellence in this area.
In response to the report, BSR CEO, Sarah Campbell said:
"BSR has backed this enquiry from the outset and we are hugely grateful to the BSR members on the enquiry steering group and those collecting data from their service. The recommendations from the report are clear and should prompt action that leads to the improvement of outcomes for those with JIA. BSR is ready to collaborate with all named stakeholders to improve the quality of care for young people".
She continued,
"This report comes at a great time for advancements in paediatric and adolescent rheumatology. There is exciting national work through the Getting it Right First Time Programme and a new treatment pathway in development for JIA. At BSR, we are delighted to have given the go ahead for the development of a JIA guideline that will address the needs of children, adolescents and adults with JIA".
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- Are you interested in any GIRFT vacancies currently available? You may want to check out the BSR/GIRFT fellowship post. Learn more about what's on offer and how to apply.
- Learn more about the JIA Learning Collaborative