23 January 2025
As we step into 2025, it’s an ideal moment to reflect on the challenges we've faced and the progress we’ve made, but also to think about what lies ahead. For those of us in the rheumatology community, this year holds a lot of promise.
With the government’s 10-Year Health Plan on the horizon, we have an opportunity to shape the future of the health and care system. This year BSR will continue to shine a spotlight on the issues you’re telling us are critical in rheumatology, and put forward the case for changes that would make a real difference to our patients, including access to early diagnosis, better care for children and young people, and addressing gaps in primary care provision.
The imminent publication of the NHS Scotland homecare medicines review is another development that could deliver significant improvements to the way care is delivered. And of course, we’re all looking forward to our Annual Conference in Manchester this April—a chance to come together, celebrate our successes, and look at how we can continue pushing for the changes that matter most.
Workforce: A key focus
We know the rheumatology workforce is under pressure. Staffing gaps are impacting the day-to-day care of our patients and are a source of huge pressure on our members. We will continue advocating for a workforce strategy that addresses these challenges. This includes better succession planning, an updated curriculum for trainees, and creating more pathways for academic careers.
Our 2023 workforce report makes it clear:
We need to grow the workforce, not just to improve patient care, but to also ensure the financial sustainability of the NHS.
We are also acutely aware of the pressures on primary and community care and the impact these pressures are having on delays to diagnosis and treatment. This has a profound impact on disease remission and the ability to prevent further life-limiting ill health: data from the October 2024 National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA) demonstrates that longer referral-to-treatment delays are associated with reduced remission rates at three months, particularly for individuals waiting more than 12 weeks to commence treatment.
On top of this, we’re facing system-wide issues like IT inefficiencies and shortages in key medicines, particularly in paediatric and adolescent services. We will continue working hard on your behalf to find collaborative solutions to these challenges.
Following the success of our nurse job planning guidance in 2024, this year we will be developing job planning guidance for rheumatology specialist pharmacists. Not only will this support our pharmacists to focus on key areas of their work but also make sure rheumatology units can meet patient need and promote best practice.
Our programme of education courses also continues to run in 2025, providing vital training to the whole MDT through events, webinars and online learning. As a membership organisation, we always keep knowledge sharing and best-practice at the heart of what we do.
Putting patients first
Access to timely treatment must be available to everyone. The NEIAA data shows high levels of mental health comorbidities among our patients, but in many cases the support services aren’t there. This is a massive gap that needs filling. We’re calling for better integration of mental and physical healthcare, more specialised counselling, and reducing delays in mental health referrals. We’re also pushing for more resources to help patients stay in work—because we all know how important employment is to health and well-being.
Patient care is always our priority, and this year we’ll be hearing from patients at our brand-new Patient Voices event. This event will give us a unique opportunity to hear patient perspectives and bring a fresh approach to our clinical learning.
Exciting advances in treatment
The landscape of treatments is evolving rapidly, and we’re excited about the possibilities. CAR-T therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is generating real excitement, and new treatments like the TYK2 inhibitor for psoriatic arthritis and an IL-6 inhibitor for juvenile idiopathic arthritis are on the way. The approval of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for obesity could also transform outcomes for patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. New BSR guidelines on foot health, Axial spondyloarthritis and Lupus will also be published later this year, advancing our knowledge of the latest evidence-based practice for these conditions.
Moving forward together
Looking ahead, we’re committed to making sure that the rheumatology community stays at the forefront of best practice, innovation, and collaboration. If you’re considering a career in rheumatology, now is the time to dive in—rheumatology offers a rewarding career with a wealth of opportunity in clinical practice, quality improvement, and research.
We’re stronger together, so by building on our collective expertise, we can ensure that 2025 is a year of meaningful progress. We’re listening, we’re acting, and we’re ready to shape the future of rheumatology care.
Jo Ledingham
BSR President