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This General Election must be a turning point for our community.

Right now, people with arthritis are being failed by those in power. Too many lives are on hold, left waiting in agony for treatment and support. Ongoing delays are pushing more of us out of work and to breaking point.

Will you email your local parliamentary candidates asking them to stand up for people with arthritis this General Election?

Our manifesto sets out how the next UK Government can make arthritis a priority - and what local parliamentary candidates can do to stand up for people with arthritis if they’re elected.

It’s time to take us, the 10 million people with arthritis, seriously.

Find out more about our priorities for the next UK Government:

Priority 1: Make arthritis a national health priority >

1 in 6 people in the UK have arthritis – that’s over 10 million of us. And yet arthritis is still not taken seriously. It’s often wrongly dismissed as an inevitable part of ageing by many people, including those in power.

The failure to prioritise arthritis can result in delays to getting a diagnosis, which can be key in unlocking access to treatment and support.

Arthritis needs to be taken seriously so that people get the care and support they need. That’s why we are calling for arthritis to be a priority in local and national health plans across the UK.

Priority 2: Tackle waiting times for essential planned care >

The number of cases in the UK waiting for trauma and orthopaedic treatment – which includes joint replacement surgery – has reached 1 million. Delays mean people’s lives are on hold, many waiting in agony for this essential planned care.

That’s why we are calling for the UK Government to take urgent action to tackle waiting lists. People with arthritis need to see a realistic plan to bring down waiting times and better support and communication to help them stay well while they wait.

Priority 3: Invest more in arthritis research >

£69 million of government research spending currently goes towards musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis – but the amount needed in reality is £183 million. Research is fundamental to improving the lives of people with arthritis.

That’s why we are calling on the UK Government to increase funding for musculoskeletal research so that it matches the impact of these conditions, including arthritis.

Priority 4: Support people to stay, or return, to work >

1 in 10 people currently employed in the UK have a musculoskeletal condition including arthritis, with many struggling to get the support they need to stay well in work. We also know that people with arthritis are up to 20% less likely to be in work than those without the condition.

That's why we are calling for better support for people with arthritis to start and stay in work – this includes making it easier to access occupational health and cutting the waiting times for employment support programmes.

Priority 5: Support children and young people to thrive >

There are around 10,000 people under the age of 16 in the UK who have Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis – a condition that causes joint pain and swelling, loss of mobility and extreme tiredness It can also affect their mental health and wellbeing.

That's why we are calling for better support for children and young people with arthritis – including improved mental health support, individually tailored plans in schools, and support plans to help every young person with arthritis transition from child to adult health services.

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Which of these best describes you?

Someone with arthritis

Someone with a musculoskeletal condition

Someone who is a carer for a person with arthritis

A medical professional who works with people with arthritis

Someone who cares about someone with arthritis

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