The Department has no plans to update the musculoskeletal services framework to incorporate the recommendations of the National Audit Office's report, “Services for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis”.
The Department welcomes the National Audit Office's report into national health service provision of services for people with rheumatoid arthritis. The Government are committed to improving care and outcomes for all people with long term conditions, including people with rheumatoid arthritis.
For example, the Department has published a good practice commissioning pathway for inflammatory arthritis which supports clinicians in identifying cases of rheumatoid arthritis and ensuring that they are set on the right pathway of care. This describes key symptoms, for example where patients should be referred for urgent treatment.
The pathway is also aimed at supporting local implementation of good practice, to improve efficiency, reduce delays, and improve quality of service provision in a safe and effective way.
The Department has also published “Your health, your way—a guide to long term
conditions and self care” which provides people living with long term conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, with information about the choices that should be available to them locally to enable them to self care in partnership with health and social care professionals. The guide can be found on the NHS Choices website at:
www.nhs.uk/Planners/Yourhealth/Pages/Yourhealth.aspx
The Department has approved funding for three new national clinical audits that will collect data on falls and bone health in older people; hip fractures; and pain. These important new national audits, which have relevance for people with musculoskeletal conditions, were announced by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership in September 2009.