Local MP David Amess is today calling for better care for patients with musculoskeletal conditions and the creation of a national strategy for musculoskeletal conditions in England.

This year the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) is hosting its annual conference in London, between 25-28 May, and has partnered with leading patient charity Arthritis Care to call for action to improve outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.

There are over 200 musculoskeletal conditions affecting 9.6 million adults and 12,000 children in England. Musculoskeletal conditions include all forms of arthritis, back pain and osteoporosis and last year cost the NHS in England £4.76 billion making treating them the fourth highest area of NHS spending. Despite high prevalence and being the fourth highest area of NHS spend, costing more than neurological conditions, blood disorders, infectious diseases, and respiratory conditions, treatment for patients with musculoskeletal conditions continues to be undermined by late diagnosis, lack of access to specialists and variations in spending on patients.

Mr Amess said: “There are, on average 18,011 people with musculoskeletal conditions in each constituency. To support patients in Southend West I am working with the European League Against Rheumatism and Arthritis Care to call for a national strategy for musculoskeletal conditions to make sure patients get the care and outcomes they deserve.”

Neil Betteridge, Chief Executive of the charity Arthritis Care said: “We are delighted that Mr Amess has chosen to use the imminent arrival of the European League Against Rheumatism’s annual conference in London to work with Arthritis Care to put the care of people with musculoskeletal conditions back on the agenda in Parliament and raise awareness of the condition in their constituency.”

Professor Paul Emery, EULAR president and rheumatology professor at Leeds University said: “There is a desperate need for a national strategy for musculoskeletal conditions. The implementation of this strategy would not mean additional expenditure but would, rather, set out the framework for how musculoskeletal services could be liberated to focus on improving outcomes, a key driver of the government’s NHS reform plans. A national strategy would enable costs to be controlled and would support healthcare professionals and commissioners to ensure that patients receive the services they need most.”