Health

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

Published

6 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

Turkish dental clinic to hold Haverfordwest meet-up

Published

14 hours ago

April 29, 2026

Staff Writer

DENTISTS FROM ANTALYA TO VISIT COUNTY TOWN

A TURKISH dental clinic is running a dental meet-up in Haverfordwest this weekend as part of a promotional visit to Wales.

Unique Smile Turkey, which has a permanent office in Wales in Swansea, says its top dentists will be coming to Haverfordwest on Sunday (May 3).

The event is being advertised as a “Dental Meet-Up” and is scheduled to run from 10:00am to 6:00pm at the Mariners Hotel.

The visit features three clinicians: Assoc Prof Dr Ummuhan Tozoglu, described as a specialist in oral diagnosis, radiology and dental planning; Professor Dr Sinan Tozoglu, described as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and implantologist; and Professor Dr Ismet Duran, described as a periodontologist and implantologist.

The team have between twenty and 35 years of experience in their respective fields.

A contact number has also been provided for enquiries: +90 505 678 90 90.

The visit comes amid continuing interest in dental tourism, with many people in the UK looking overseas for cosmetic dentistry, implants and other private dental treatment.

Turkey has become one of the most popular destinations for such treatment, although patients are generally urged to make careful checks before committing to any procedure abroad, including aftercare arrangements, qualifications, insurance, treatment plans and what support would be available if complications arise after returning home.

Health

Welsh public backs urgent action on dementia ahead of Senedd elections

Published

2 days ago

April 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Calls grow for diagnosis, care and support to become national priority

NEW figures reveal overwhelming public demand for dementia to be placed at the top of Wales’ political agenda, with voters urging action on diagnosis, treatment and support ahead of the Senedd elections.

Research by Alzheimer’s Society Cymru shows that 83% of people in Wales want dementia made a healthcare priority, while 69% believe it is currently overlooked and underfunded.

More than a thousand adults were surveyed, with the findings highlighting growing concern over diagnosis rates and access to care. Wales continues to record some of the lowest dementia diagnosis rates in the UK, leaving thousands of families without clarity or support.

Around 51,000 people are currently living with dementia in Wales, a figure expected to rise to 70,000 by 2040. Despite this, only 57% of people have received a formal diagnosis, with rates falling as low as 48% in rural areas such as Powys.

Improving diagnosis remains a key concern, with 91% of those surveyed saying access to timely diagnosis must improve, and 87% backing increased investment in diagnostic services. However, respondents also stressed that diagnosis alone is not enough, with 91% saying people with dementia must receive better support, including help for unpaid carers.

Ceri Parry, from Cardiff, said she was forced to retire early from her role as a headteacher at the age of 55 due to a lack of support for her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020.

She said: “I fully support improving early and accurate diagnosis, but this must also come with improved support and care for families afterwards. There’s five years between my relatives’ diagnoses and nothing changed. On both occasions we left with a leaflet and the unknown.

“The wait for improved diagnosis, treatment and support needs to end. Dementia must be a top priority for the next Welsh Government, for families living with it now and for those who will face it in the future.

“We also found there was no diagnosis assessment available in the Welsh language. That’s a fundamental issue if a diagnosis is to be accurate and safe for people who speak Welsh as their first language. Ignoring someone’s identity is ignoring the person.”

The survey also found that visible action would be key to restoring public confidence, with 72% calling for improved dementia services, 64% backing more funding for research, and 63% wanting better access to treatments.

Gemma Roberts, National Influencing Manager at Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, said: “Dementia is Wales’s biggest killer and one of the greatest health and social care challenges we face.

“Hope is on the horizon with new treatments and faster, more accurate diagnosis, but the system is not keeping pace. Without urgent transformation, people in Wales risk missing out.

“We are at a turning point. The next Welsh Government must deliver a bold new dementia strategy that transforms diagnosis and ensures access to quality care, treatments and support.”

Health

Dentists warn next Welsh Government must act to save NHS dentistry

Published

6 days ago

April 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DENTISTS have warned that NHS dentistry in Wales is at a “make or break” point, with access to treatment now ranking as one of the biggest local concerns for voters ahead of the Senedd election.

The British Dental Association said new polling by YouGov showed local dentistry services were now a top doorstep issue in Wales, with 30% of adults naming it as one of the most important issues in their local area.

That places dentistry ahead of crime and education, both on 14%, and above job opportunities, which were cited by 27% of respondents.

The poll also found that 79% of people in Wales believe the Welsh Government should be doing more to improve NHS dentistry, while only 11% think ministers are doing all they reasonably can.

According to the BDA, unmet need for NHS dentistry now stands at around a third of the adult population in Wales. One in five people said they had tried but failed to get an NHS dental appointment in the past two years, while a further 13% said they had not tried because they assumed they would be unable to secure one.

The professional body said the figures suggest Wales may now be the worst place in Britain to be an NHS dental patient.

The warning comes after controversial dental reforms were introduced in Wales on April 1. The BDA says the changes were forced through without proper testing and have already led some practices to return NHS contracts or reduce their NHS commitment.

It is calling for a “safety net” for struggling practices, including a pause on implementation until 2027 while further improvements are worked up.

The association is also calling for a break from what it describes as chronic underfunding, better protection for vulnerable patients, and a change of tone from the next Welsh Government.

Russell Gidney, Chair of the BDA’s Welsh General Dental Practice Committee, said: “NHS dentistry in Wales was already in crisis, and without decisive action things are set to go from bad to worse.

“Untested reforms have already seen many dentists walk away from the NHS. Whoever forms the next government will need a plan to guarantee the future of this service.

“For voters facing access and cost of living crises dentistry matters. Political choices mean it is now a real concern on the doorstep – polling ahead of crime, education and even jobs as a top-flight issue facing Wales.

“Our message to all candidates and all parties is very clear: dentistry is on the ballot paper in this election. And the public will measure how you choose to respond.

“This is a service millions of voters depend on. Meaningful action will be rewarded. Complacency will be punished.”

The Welsh Government has defended its reforms, saying the new contract is designed to “make NHS dentistry more accessible, fairer and sustainable,” with a stronger focus on prevention and prioritising patients based on clinical need.

The YouGov survey of 1,092 Welsh adults was carried out between February 2 and February 9, 2026.