People with arthritis and other similar conditions are being invited to consult on service improvements in two neighbouring CCGs.
Bath and North East Somerset CCG, as well as Wiltshire CCG have commissioned the Rheumatology Commissioning Support Alliance to review local services and provide advice on how to improve.
People with arthritis and other similar conditions are being invited to consult on service improvements in two neighbouring CCGs.
Bath and North East Somerset CCG, as well as Wiltshire CCG have commissioned the Rheumatology Commissioning Support Alliance to review local services and provide advice on how to improve.
People with osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, lower back pain, ankylosing spondylitis and lupus are invited to give their views via an online survey.
Dr Ian Orpen, of Bath and North East Somerset CCG, said: “It’s essential we involve people living with rheumatological conditions in the plans for services and the support made available to them – otherwise how do you know it’s the right services and support or that people are accessing what is there for them?
“By talking to people and understanding their experiences, as commissioners, we can get a better idea of what is working well, what needs sharing more widely, and where there are gaps in provision. This helps us to commission more effectively.”
Ailsa Bosworth, chief executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, said: “We are committed to supporting local rheumatology patients and healthcare professionals in working alongside commissioners locally to improve the planning and provision of services.
“We know that by liaising directly with people with rheumatological conditions and their families we can find out a lot about the real picture locally and then can use that information to help drive quality and generally improve the way health and social care services are planned and delivered.”
