Health

Millions with arthritis ‘left waiting and left behind’ in Wales

Published

5 months ago

October 19, 2025

MILLIONS of people across the UK — including thousands in Wales — are being left to cope in constant pain, unable to work, and without timely treatment or support, according to a major new report from Arthritis UK.

The charity’s study, Left Waiting, Left Behind: The Reality of Living with Arthritis, reveals the scale of suffering faced by the one in six people in the UK living with arthritis, and warns that lives and livelihoods are being destroyed by long NHS delays, poor understanding, and a lack of investment in musculoskeletal (MSK) care.

The report, which surveyed 8,000 people across the UK — including 644 from Wales — found that nearly seven in ten (69%) live in pain most or all of the time, while 43% say their condition is not well managed.

More than half (51%) of Welsh respondents said their symptoms were not taken seriously or were underplayed by frontline healthcare staff.

Over half (55%) said their arthritis has severely or very severely affected their ability to exercise — even though physical activity is known to be crucial in preventing other long-term conditions.

Mental health and work at breaking point

The report found that 69% of respondents said waiting for treatment had harmed their mental health, with anxiety, low mood and isolation all common.

More than half (57%) said arthritis had impacted their ability to work, while 45% said they had stopped work completely because of the condition. A further 41% said arthritis played a part in their decision to retire.

For many, daily life has become a battle with chronic pain and exhaustion.
Tina Gough, from Ferryside, who has osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, has been waiting for surgery for three years.

“I’ve been waiting for a double shoulder replacement and surgery on my wrist for three years,” she said. “My husband has to cut up my food and brush my hair because I can’t lift my shoulders.
I know I’m not the only one on a waiting list, but people don’t see what happens behind closed doors — when you try to get on with life despite being in constant pain.”

A ‘ticking timebomb’ for Wales

Arthritis UK Chief Executive Deborah Alsina MBE said the condition remains “grossly misunderstood”, and called for urgent action from governments and health services.

“Too many people with arthritis in Wales and across the UK are being left unsupported and left to face daily pain, without timely diagnosis and adequate treatment,” she said.
“Arthritis is not an inevitable part of ageing. We are sitting on a ticking timebomb of costs that the country will struggle with if it is not properly recognised as a major risk to public health.”

The charity says early diagnosis and better management of arthritis could reduce NHS pressures, improve mental wellbeing, and keep more people in work. But many patients are waiting years for orthopaedic surgery or specialist appointments — particularly in Wales, where waiting times for joint replacements remain among the longest in the UK.

Welsh Government urged to act

Mary Cowern, Head of Nation at Arthritis UK Cymru, said Wales urgently needs to deliver on its commitment to improve musculoskeletal care.

“Arthritis UK has called for improved training for frontline healthcare professionals to enable earlier diagnosis and better support,” she said.
“The Welsh Government has developed an All-Wales Multi-Professional Musculoskeletal Capability Framework to improve skills and knowledge of NHS staff in primary and community care. But it’s vital that this plan is implemented quickly — and that long waiting times for surgery are reduced as soon as possible.”

Unequal and unfair

The report found that the impact of arthritis is not evenly spread. Younger adults, people from lower-income backgrounds, and those with autoimmune inflammatory conditions — such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis — experience worse outcomes, longer waits, and greater mental health impacts.

People from lower social grades were more likely to report unmanaged pain and less likely to find self-management techniques useful, while younger adults faced stigma and disbelief from healthcare professionals who often dismissed them as “too young” to have arthritis.

The survey found that 40% of all respondents said arthritis had negatively affected their personal relationships, while 30% said their sleep was severely affected by their symptoms.

A hidden crisis in Wales

The findings come amid record NHS waiting lists, with more than 60,000 people in Wales currently waiting for orthopaedic treatment. In Pembrokeshire, residents continue to face delays at Withybush Hospital and other regional centres, leaving many unable to work, exercise, or live independently.

Arthritis UK says the situation is “not inevitable” and can be changed through investment, training, and recognition of arthritis as a national health priority.

The charity has also announced a rebrand from Versus Arthritis to Arthritis UK, following consultation with people living with the condition. It hopes the change will make its services easier to find and raise awareness of the support available.

Arthritis UK provides support, training, and research funding, and is calling for arthritis and other MSK conditions to be recognised as a major public health issue. It says people with arthritis must have equal access to personalised treatment and care, regardless of where they live, and should be empowered to take an active role in decisions about their health.

The full report, Left Waiting, Left Behind: The Reality of Living with Arthritis, is available at www.arthritis-uk.org

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service to host bi-monthly Board meeting

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE is preparing to host its bi-monthly Board meeting – and the public are invited.

Join the meeting on Thursday 26 March via Microsoft Teams to hear senior leaders cover a full agenda, including approval of the Integrated Medium-Term Plan for 2026-29, which outlines what the organisation will prioritise and deliver, how it will use its resources and how it will continue to improve care for the people of Wales over the next three years.

Board members will approve the initial revenue budget for the year ahead and receive an update on current financial performance.

The Board will also hear from Mr Clarke from Cwmbran, who describes an experience of trying to access help via 999 for his late father who was terminally ill.

There will also be an opportunity to pose a question to the Board.

Chair Colin Dennis said: “Board meetings give you the opportunity to really get to know our ambulance service, with a clear view of how important decisions are shaped and the processes behind them.

“They also create a forum to hear directly about ongoing work, explore how we can strengthen support for the Trust’s staff and patients, and connect with the people responsible for shaping those decisions.”

Click here to watch the Board meeting on Thursday 26 March 2026 from 9.30am.

This link will be active from 10 minutes before the meeting starts.

To pre-submit a question, please email [email protected] by no later than Wednesday 25 March 2026.An agenda will be available on the Trust’s website in the days prior to the meeting.

Health

Pharmacies carry out record number of consultations for common health issues

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PHARMACIES across Wales carried out more than 600,000 clinical consultations for a wide range of common health issues over the last twelve months, according to the latest community pharmacy services statistics.

Almost 346,000 people used the Common Ailments Service, which offers free advice and treatment for twenty-seven common conditions and is available in ninety-nine per cent of pharmacies across Wales.

Figures covering April 2024 to March 2025 show that more than 462,000 Common Ailments Service consultations took place during the period – the highest number ever recorded.

The most frequent reasons people sought help from their local pharmacy included sore throats, hay fever, conjunctivitis and dermatitis.

Pharmacies also carried out more than 53,000 consultations specifically for sore throat treatment, around 33,000 consultations for contraception advice and treatment, and over 121,000 consultations to provide emergency supplies of medicines.

During those emergency consultations pharmacists issued more than 189,000 prescription-only medicines to patients who had run out of medication and were unable to obtain a new prescription in time.

In addition to these consultations, pharmacies across Wales dispensed more than eighty million prescription items over the same twelve-month period.

The Common Ailments Service allows people to receive treatment closer to home while helping free up GP appointments for patients with more complex or urgent medical needs.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said: “Community pharmacies play a vital role in providing healthcare across Wales.

“Nearly half a million consultations in a single year shows just how much people value being able to walk into their local pharmacy and get the help they need quickly, without having to wait for a GP appointment.

“We are working to ensure more people can receive convenient care closer to home, and expanding access to these services is a key part of that.

“The right care, in the right place, at the right time — that is what people in Wales want, and what our pharmacies are delivering.”

Community

Lessons from COVID-19 highlight need to strengthen voluntary sector resilience

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW report has urged the Welsh Government to work more closely with voluntary organisations to ensure communities are better prepared for future emergencies.

The call comes from the Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, which examined how lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have shaped Wales’ current emergency planning.

The report highlights the crucial role played by voluntary groups during the pandemic, particularly in supporting vulnerable people and responding quickly to rising community needs.

Clair Swales, Chief Executive of the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO), welcomed the committee’s findings and its recommendation that government bodies strengthen collaboration with the voluntary sector and commissioning organisations.

The recommendation includes making greater use of long-term funding arrangements to support infrastructure investment and improve the sector’s ability to respond to sudden surges in demand during emergencies.

Giving evidence to the committee last November, Swales warned that continued financial pressures across the sector could weaken its ability to respond effectively in future crises.

She said: “If I was asked to bring the third sector together to respond to an emergency at this moment, I could. However, future involvement may become more challenging as the sector continues to face significant financial and capacity pressures.”

The committee’s report, published on Tuesday (Mar 11), explored how the Welsh Government and public bodies responded to the pandemic and what improvements have been made since.

It also considered findings from Module 1 of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, which examined resilience and preparedness across the UK.

Swales said the report recognises that the work carried out by voluntary organisations during the pandemic came at a significant cost to the sector.

She added: “Evidence from a number of voluntary organisations shows the sector is facing considerable funding and resource challenges.

“We will continue to work with commissioners and the Powys third sector to maximise opportunities, represent the sector’s voice in policy and investment discussions, and ensure rural communities are considered when funding and commissioning services.”

The report has been submitted to the Welsh Government and will be debated by Members of the Senedd during a plenary session on Wednesday (Mar 18).

Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations is the County Voluntary Council for Powys and operates offices in Newtown and Llandrindod Wells.