Referral delays for arthritis patients

An audit report has discovered that only 20 per cent of patients who visit a GP with suspected inflammatory arthritis are referred to a specialist within the target three days.

Inflammatory arthritis affects one million people in the UK, with 700,000 of those having rheumatoid arthritis, leading to joint pain, stiffness and swelling.

The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) has argued that higher awareness of the early symptoms of the condition must improve, despite the majority of patients expressing contentment with their care.

The audit also found that fewer than half of the patients analysed were seen by a specialist with three weeks, another target set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Dr Jo Ledingham, clinical audit director, said: “Rapid access to specialist services is needed, however, to facilitate this. I hope this report serves as a wake-up call to everybody involved in referring, diagnosing, treating and commissioning services for inflammatory arthritis – from GPs to specialists.”

Dr Liam O'Toole, chief executive officer at the charity Arthritis Research UK, said: “We urge that immediate action is taken to improve access to these services, so that people with inflammatory arthritis get the treatment they need and the quality of life they deserve.”