Politics Home Article | Arthritis UK has responded to NHSE’s Health Survey for England

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK, said: 

“The findings of this survey show a shocking percentage of people with MSK conditions experience chronic pain.”  

“The HSE survey found one in four people in England report having chronic pain and 39% of these people also had an MSK condition. The survey also paints a stark picture of health inequalities, with links between deprivation and chronic pain.”  

“In recent years, Arthritis UK has worked hard for musculoskeletal conditions – and the chronic pain they cause – to be recognised as a public health issue. Public health decisions must be informed by robust, reliable data. In the face of this lack of data, the charity has again funded the inclusion of questions in Health Survey for England to understand the scale and impact chronic pain is having on the population.” 

“The survey also provides yet more evidence for why MSK conditions and chronic pain need to be prioritised by the UK Government. We are therefore calling for a national framework for MSK to ensure the NHS 10 Year Plan commitments become a reality for the millions of people living in pain due to arthritis and other MSK conditions.”