“Deliver a fair deal for people with arthritis”, charity tells government

Arthritis Research UK has called for the government to do more to end the suffering for the 10 million in the UK living with the devastating pain of arthritis.

Earlier this month we launched our 'No Time To Lose' campaign, giving you the chance to get your local MPs involved to ensure they're fighting for a fair deal for people with arthritis during the government's Spending Review.

Now, with the wellbeing of people with arthritis at stake, we've called for spending in specific areas to support people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions in our official response to the government's Spending Review.

"It's absolutely vital that the Government take this opportunity to deliver a fair deal for people with arthritis." Dr Liam O'Toole, chief executive officer of Arthritis Research UK

Everything is under review in this Spending Review, including benefits, healthcare, support for research, and the amount of money local councils will receive to invest in local services.

The government will announce the outcome of its review of all spending on 25 November, with a target of £37 billion of savings over the next five years.

Arthritis Research UK's submission to the Treasury (PDF 122KB) includes calls for the government to:

• protect the exemptions for benefits for people with disability from the freeze on working age benefits
• reverse its decision taken at the Summer Budget to cut Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for new claimants in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) by £30 per week - a move that could hit thousands of people with arthritis over the coming years
• maintain and then invest more money in local public health services that help keep people healthy
• commit to the search for a cure for arthritis by protecting and then increasing investment in medical research.

The submission also asks for an increase in social care funding, more support for people with arthritis to remain in, or return to work, and a warning that NHS efficiency savings should not "compromise the quality of healthcare services" for people with arthritis.

Commenting on the Spending Review, Dr Liam O'Toole, chief executive officer of Arthritis Research UK, said:

"Over 10 million people are living with the pain of arthritis today in the UK. It's absolutely vital that the Government take this opportunity to deliver a fair deal for people with arthritis.

"We were delighted that the Prime Minister and over 140 other MPs from all parties committed to championing people with arthritis during the election campaign by signing up to the Arthritis Research UK manifesto 'Prevent, Transform, Cure'.

"It's now important that we see real action from MPs and the government to ensure the needs of people with arthritis are recognised and addressed in this Spending Review."