26 April 2023
Organisations from across the rheumatology and MSK sector have come together to launch a joint pledge campaign to target MPs and political parties ahead of the next general election, expected to take place in 2024.
The pledge campaign is led by us and is supported by the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS), the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) and the Primary Care Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine Society (PCRMMS). It asks MPs to advocate for a growth in the rheumatology workforce by recruiting;
- 159 additional adult rheumatology consultant posts;
- 264 additional specialist nurse posts in adult rheumatology services;
- 12 additional paediatric rheumatology consultant posts;
- and removing barriers to the development of extended roles for allied health professionals, pharmacists and specialist nurses to address capacity issues across specialist services.
These recommendations are needed to ensure rheumatology care across the UK is delivered in line with NICE guidance, as evidenced in our new manifesto for service delivery The People We Need: Our plan to grow the rheumatology workforce and enable excellent care.
Speaking about the pledge campaign PCRMMS co-president, Dr Lucy Douglas said:
“The Primary Care Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine Society is fully behind the joint pledge to grow the rheumatology workforce.
This pledge aligns with our charity’s aims which include striving to improve the diagnosis and care of patients suffering from rheumatological conditions. Delivery of this aim requires a sufficient and adequately trained workforce from primary through to secondary care.”
Targeting MPs and political parties ahead of the next general election, our campaign The People We Need is making the ethical and the economic case for investment in rheumatology services over the course of the next Parliament. The campaign’s online campaign is centred around the patient story, highlighted in our new short film Living Free. In soon-to-be published health economics research we will evidence that investment in rheumatology specialists would save the health service much needed resources.
Commenting on the campaign BSR CEO Ali Rivett said:
“With this new campaign BSR is making the compelling case for investment in Rheumatology services in the years to come. The care our members provide to those living with Rheumatic conditions is transformational and with our soon to be published health economics modelling, BSR will evidence that investing to get Rheumatology MDT’s up to full strength would in fact bring down costs for the health service, not push them up.
For whichever political party may form the next government, we’re showing investment in Rheumatology services is a no-brainer.”
Our campaign now turns to mobilising our members, patients and the general public.
You can support the campaign by:
- Taking our online action and writing to your local MP
- Sharing our campaign video Living Free, using these hashtags: #ThePeopleWeNeed #LivingFree #FreeToBeMe.
You can also read the full ‘manifesto’ The People We Need: Our plan to grow the rheumatology workforce and enable excellent care here.