Spondyloarthritis
(asked on 29th January 2018) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of variation in the quality of care provided in the NHS for people diagnosed with spondyloarthritis conditions.
The Five Year Forward View has made a specific commitment to do more to support people with long-term conditions and to help them manage their own health. Self-management increases the likelihood of better clinical outcomes, lower rates of hospitalisation and less need for emergency care.
Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning services that offer education and self-management for patients diagnosed with arthritic conditions as well ensuring local arrangements are in place to coordinate care for people across primary and secondary (specialist) settings.
In February 2017, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence published the best practice guideline Spondyloarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management. The guideline sets out a range of recommendations for clinicians and NHS services, including around the provision of information and support that patients may benefit from, such as: advice about symptoms and self-management; contact details for local and national support organisations; and, information about employment rights and ability to work. The guideline can be found via the following link: