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[Editor's Comment:
Rarely does the editor comment on Press releases but on this
occasion I must.
Arthritis Care does itself, its patients and GPs a great disservice with
the comment under the heading below. The charity seems to believe
that were O/A included in the GP contract it would lead to better care
as if GPs were neglecting their O/A patients. The GP
contract is being misunderstood by the organisation if it believes that
inclusion of a particular disease would lead to compulsory care for
those patients. It is that self-centred attitude by interest
groups which continues to lead to GP stress, early retirements and poor
recruitment.
Editor]
4 OUT OF 5 OA
PATIENTS ARE IN CONSTANT PAIN1
Include arthritis in
GP contract, says Arthritis Care
Four
out of five people with osteoarthritis (OA) are living with constant
pain1,
according
to a new report launched today (Monday 5 April 2004) by the
charity Arthritis Care in the run up to the charity’s Awareness Week.
The research, conducted amongst people who had contacted the
organisation for information, also revealed that over half the sample
even struggle to get out of bed when their arthritis is bad2.
The report, titled OA Nation, is so-called because of the
sheer size and scope of the OA problem and has been given official
backing by MP for Kingswood, Roger Berry, Secretary of the All Party
Parliamentary Disability Group. Arthritis Care estimates there are
8.5 million people living with OA in the
UK
and with an
ageing population, this number is set to increase.
The report is the most comprehensive
UK
report of
people with OA, with 1,762 people interviewed across the UK3.
The results are staggering and, with support from Roger Berry MP,
Arthritis Care is calling for a UK-wide strategy which incorporates
agreed standards of care for arthritis and the inclusion of arthritis in
the GP Contract (which makes no mention of arthritis).
81%
of people with OA interviewed (four out of five) said they experience
constant pain or are limited in their scope to perform everyday tasks1.
When their OA is bad, 69% have difficulty carrying out daily
household tasks and 53% even struggle to get out of bed2.
The OA Nation report
shows how, at every stage of the arthritis management pathway, the
patient’s access to relief appears to be lacking:
- Patient
awareness about what can be done to help them is low – 34% of
people with OA never visit a doctor4 and almost 50% would
need to have frequently unbearable pain levels before presenting to
a doctor5.
- Diagnosis
of OA is also slow, with 39% of people being diagnosed between 3-11+
visits to their doctor6.
- Of
those currently taking prescribed medication, a quarter of patients
are also buying over the counter (OTC) treatment7 which
could indicate that treatments may not always be effective.
This
report is evidence that there is a huge problem in the
UK
, and one
which we must address,’ says Neil Betteridge, Director of Public
Affairs for Arthritis Care. ‘The
UK
falls short
at every stage of the arthritis management pathway judging by the
experience of people with OA. And, people with arthritis are not aware
of what is available - if only they asked.’
But
the report also illustrates that the doctor/patient relationship can
work very well. Indeed:
- 76%
of respondents find doctor visits valuable8.
- Press
articles and GPs are the most useful sources of information for our
sample, with leaflets also featuring strongly9.
- More
than half the sample finds their doctor responds positively to any
acquired knowledge/information the patient brings10.
Dr Niel Amin, GP
from
Enfield
in
North London
says ‘I am pleased to see the value that people put on their
consultation with their GP. However
it is vital that people see the relationship with their GP as a
partnership. By working
together to get the best out of treatments available and by devising
self-management strategies, it is possible to reduce the astonishing
burden of pain which this report highlights.’
Says
Betteridge, ‘Arthritis Care is campaigning for a UK-wide strategy that
delivers agreed standards of care. With
the
UK
facing an
increasing older population, this is a problem that is only going to get
bigger. However, it is not all down to the health services.
We must encourage this OA Nation to take action and
not to put up with it in silence.
‘To
people with OA, we say:
- Speak
to your GP and explore your options – some of those options might
not even have existed at the time you were diagnosed
- If
you have not yet seen your doctor about stiff and painful joints
then consider doing so. You
won’t be wasting the GP’s time – and Arthritis Care can help
you get the most out of your consultation if you are not sure where
to start.
- If
you are prescribed treatments then take them as advised; but
explore, too, other ways of learning what you can do – the right
diet and exercise routines might really help
- Above
all, manage your arthritis. Don’t
let it manage you.’
Neil
Betteridge concludes, ‘People with OA can lead independent and
fulfilling lives. But, to do
so, things have to change. OA
Nation paints a picture that at times is saddening and
frustrating – but above all it represents people with OA finally
finding their voice. It’s
a compelling story and one which will not go away.’
(10/4/04)
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