Adrian Sanders MP asks what the cost of rheumatoid arthritis is in Torbay

Local MP Adrian Sanders met members from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) to ask how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects not just the health of his constituents but the health of the economy.

A recent report from the charity found that the costs to the UK economy of the condition arising from productivity losses total almost £8 billion, this is about £12 million per UK Parliamentary constituency.  However, spending by Torbay Care Trust on RA was £13.11 per head of population in 2008/09.
 
RA is a chronic and disabling autoimmune disease, affecting about 690,000 people in the UK .  It has no known cause or cure. It remains a major cause of worklessness – almost 30% of people with RA surveyed by NRAS in 2007 gave up work within a year of being diagnosed with the condition.

The Public Accounts Committee report on services for people with rheumatoid arthritis highlighted significant variations in the spending on and quality of services for people with RA and other musculoskeletal conditions across the country.  Yet, it also recommended that earlier diagnosis and treatment could not only limit the progression of the disease but also deliver significant savings for the NHS and wider economy.

Adrian Sanders MP commented, ‘People with rheumatoid arthritis deserve to receive the care and treatment on the NHS and I commend the work of NRAS in highlighting the variations in spend and in the quality of service across the country.  I will be speaking to the local NHS to find out what they are doing to tackle both the health and economic burden of rheumatoid arthritis’.

Ailsa Bosworth, Chief Executive of NRAS said: ‘It is crucial that rheumatoid arthritis patients are diagnosed and treated early. This will not only ensure that patients receive best prognosis and are able to remain active and in work but will also help the NHS realise the savings it needs to make over the next few years by reducing the need for costly interventions and inpatient stays. We urge the Government to address the recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee as a priority’.

Comments

[James looking for Rheumatoid arthritis treatments]

Thank you for sharing this very useful and interesting information, the cost of rheumatoid arthritis on the economy had never crossed my mind until I’ve read it here in adriansanders.org. The authorities should not ignore this issue. Rheumatoid arthritis makes more people unable to work causing the country’s progress to decrease. I hope you continue to share more eye-opening information like this. I’m very happy to learn about this information. Rheumatoid arthritis should be treated as early as possible and this issue deserves to get sufficient attention. I also agree that NRAS deserves to be commended for a job well done. I hope NHS would take adequate actions that would contribute to this issue.

[Angel Medina]

Good Day Sir! I just want to thank you for posting this. It is very informative; many people have been neglecting the effect of rheumatoid arthritis in the economy. I never even realized that it does affect the economy's progress until I've read this. I strongly believe that people who are diagnosed by this should be treated early. Rheumatoid arthritis increase the rate of unemployment and results to the loss of a country. I am grateful that NRAS are doing a great job on their area of expertise. I hope my own country also realize the importance of this issue.