MP puts spotlight on rheumatoid arthritis

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Jim Dobbin MP

Middleton and Heywood MP Jim Dobbin MP is supporting the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) on World Arthritis Day in calling for improvements in services for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

The theme of World Arthritis Day 2010 is ‘let’s work together’. Today (Tuesday 12 October 2010) NRAS members, health professionals and Jim Dobbin MP will be working together to raise awareness of RA and of what needs to be done to improve outcomes for patients.

This World Arthritis Day, Jim Dobbin MP will be asking questions in Parliament and speaking to the local NHS about rheumatoid arthritis services .

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and disabling autoimmune disease, affecting about 690,000 people in the UK . It has no known cause or cure . It remains a major cause of people not working – almost 30% of people with RA surveyed by NRAS in 2007 gave up work within a year of being diagnosed with the condition . The overall cost of the condition to the UK economy is almost £8 billion each year .

Jim Dobbin MP said: “There are, on average 1,061 people with rheumatoid arthritis in each constituency. To support NRAS on World Arthritis Day, I am working with them to raise awareness of rheumatoid arthritis and the importance of early diagnosis so that people can get the treatment they need at an early stage and continue to enjoy life and work with the condition.”

Ailsa Bosworth, Chief Executive of NRAS said: “We are delighted that Jim Dobbin MP has chosen to work with NRAS to put rheumatoid arthritis back on the agenda in Parliament and raise awareness of the condition in their constituency. NRAS is committed to ensuring that services are fully coordinated across the whole health service and improving outcomes for people with rheumatoid arthritis.”