Arthritis UK – 10 million reasons to change
Working towards a world free of arthritis
Arthritis is one of the UK's leading causes of pain, disability and worklessness, with some of the longest NHS waiting times in hospitals and the community. This is a growing public health crisis.
Versus Arthritis has a new name – Arthritis UK – and a new look, which will help us bring about greater impact for the 10 million adults, young people and children living with arthritis across the UK.
Our name may have changed, but our vision and mission remain the same. We won’t rest until everyone with arthritis has access to the treatments and support they need to live the life they choose, with real hope of a cure in the future.
Today, too many people are still not receiving the diagnosis, treatment and support they need, leaving them to face the daily pain, fatigue, disability, mental health challenges and financial strain alone.
As the UK’s leading arthritis charity, we cannot tolerate that. We must be at the heart of driving change with and for people with arthritis. That’s why we’ve taken this big step.
With a more powerful brand, grounded in the lived experience of people with arthritis, and a more recognisable name, we can ensure more people are aware of the information and support we offer, the world-leading research we’re funding, and how we’re creating positive, lasting change through our campaigns.
Right now, there needs to be real urgency in tackling this growing public health crisis. 1 in 6 of us live with arthritis; that’s around 15,000 people in each parliamentary constituency. Without timely diagnosis and adequate treatment, too many are being left in pain, eroding quality of life and damaging economic growth.
New research highlights this more than ever. At Arthritis UK, we’ve published the findings of a major survey of people living with arthritis, conducted with YouGov, which reveals the irrefutable and far-reaching impact of life with arthritis in the UK today.
1 in 2 people say arthritis affects their ability to work, with nearly 4 in 10 saying that they have stopped work altogether. And over a third of retired people (35 per cent) say arthritis played a part in their decision to retire.
People also spoke of widespread challenges in accessing effective treatment and support, long delays to secure a diagnosis, lack of treatment options, and basically feeling fobbed off. 1 in 3 people (32 per cent) say arthritis severely or very severely impacted their life in the past year. Yet nearly 1 in 2 people (48 per cent) felt their symptoms were not taken seriously or underplayed when they were trying to identify their arthritis.
Arthritis is grossly misunderstood, with diagnoses too often delayed or absent. We are sitting on a ticking time bomb of costs that the country will struggle with if it is not properly identified as a major risk to public health.
One of the many reasons arthritis must be considered as such is that it’s a gateway condition, increasing the risk of other serious diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. We cannot afford to miss or mistreat arthritis.
There is an urgent need for more investment, improved services, and better training for frontline healthcare professionals if we want to avoid further adversely impacting the lives, relationships and work opportunities of this large group.
Arthritis UK is determined to make arthritis a public health priority for all governments across the UK and to work towards a future free from arthritis.
Be part of the change by visiting www.arthritis-uk.org
