The devastating effect of long delays for treatment for sufferers of arthritis who are waiting for joint replacement surgery has been highlighted.
Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, was among colleagues who attended a Versus Arthritis Parliamentary reception in the Churchill Room in Westminster.
Experts stressed to Mr Madders, a former Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, how joint replacement surgeries can ease pain, improve mobility and restore independence. They are operations that can radically change lives.
Surgery waiting times for such procedures were increasing prior to the pandemic, but the impact of COVID-19 had a devastating effect on them. In England there are more than 750,000 people waiting for trauma and orthopaedic treatment including joint replacement surgery but those waiting have told clinicians that their physical and mental health is suffering, their pain is worsening, and their independence is rapidly decreasing.
In February 2022 the NHS Elective Recovery Plan for England was published which aims to tackle the backlog of planned care that had arisen during the pandemic by setting targets to eliminate the longest waiters, improve communication with patients as they waited, expand capacity through the use of surgical hubs, and separate elective and emergency care.
In letters to constituents Mr Madders has drawn also attention to a six-point Versus Replacement Support Package that the organisation would like local health systems to provide to those waiting for joint replacements to ensure patients receive the holistic care and support they need while waiting for their operations:-
- Clear communication to be provided to people about when they can expect to have their surgery and receive the care and services they need in the meantime.
- Personalised self-management support to be provided to help people with arthritis manage their pain while they wait for surgery.
- Physical activity programmes designed to help people with arthritis stay active and prepare for surgery should be actively promoted.
- Mental health support to be offered to help every person with arthritis to manage their pain and any associated depression and anxiety.
- Signposting to financial support and advice to be provided for people with arthritis in work or seeking work.
- Covid-19 recovery plans to address the specific needs of people with arthritis.
Pictured - Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston.
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