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ARMA Press Rlease - 15 November 2004Doctors warn of health service failures for UK's 8.5 million people with musculoskeletal conditions as new standards are launchedA new survey shows health experts are warning that the NHS is failing to meet the needs of 8.5 million people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions (MSCs).Consultant rheumatologist Mike Webley is the chairman of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA), which carried out the survey. "People who are in pain, forced into unemployment and struggling to remain independent are finding it impossible to get the healthcare they need and are entitled to," he said. The survey of doctors and other health professionals also showed 92% of respondents complained the Government's health service priorities meant they couldn't provide the level of service people with MSCs needed. The failures in services are despite initiatives such as national service framework (NSF) for older people. The survey is published as ARMA launches its new standards of care, which aim to provide a framework for health professionals to work with, and act as guidance for people with MSCs in gaining access to services which meet their requirements. Dr Webley added that the survey findings reflected the daily experiences of both doctors and patients. "Disappointing though they are, the results reflect the experience of the hundreds of thousands people with MSCs who contact ARMA members." ARMA has come across cases where patients:
Sophie Edwards, ARMA's chief executive, added: "We know that the establishment of the new standards could mark a new beginning for the millions of people who need more support from the health service. The Government's promise that people with MSCs would be fully covered by the national service frameworks remains an empty one. "People's needs don't go away just because there isn't a service available, and the impact ripples through families, communities, employers and the tax payer; more than half a million people claim incapacity benefit because of MSCs, and in the meantime health and social services are spending around œ5.5 billion a year. The Government must take action - and make the changes which will make a difference." Copies of ARMA's new standards of care for people with inflammatory arthritis, osteoarthritis and back pain are available from the ARMA website at www.arma.uk.net. A further set of standards for bone disease, connective tissue disorders and soft tissue rheumatism will be launched in 2005.
Ends For more information, please contact Ben Furner on 01273 277518, 07946 355795 or ben@bf-pr.co.uk. Notes to editors:
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