KING'S FUND REPORT ON RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Early day motion 1584, tabled 3 June 2009 by Janet Dean (Labour). Signed by 51 members.

That this House recognises the findings of the King's Fund report Perceptions of patients and professionals on rheumatoid arthritis care, commissioned by the Rheumatology Futures Project Group; notes with concern wide variations in the standards of care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, poor implementation of service redesign, insufficient clinical involvement in the commissioning process and a limited, understanding of the disease and the needs of patients; recognises the improvements in initial access to care for patients brought about by the introduction of the 18-week waiting time target, but notes that further improvements in access to care need to be made throughout the patient pathway; and calls on the Department of Health to take steps to encourage NHS organisations to improve education and training of primary healthcare professionals to ensure rapid referral for treatment and supportive care and to publish without delay a commissioning pathway for inflammatory arthritis, together with a supporting toolkit to ensure robust and consistent standards of care throughout the patient journey.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 9, DUP 5, Conservative 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.