Arthritis Research UK, whose head Office is based in Chesterfield, attended Labour Party conference last month to urge Labour MPs to back their plans to improve healthcare services for people living with arthritis.

Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, has been a strong supporter of the charity and is calling on the Government to take on board Arthritis Research UK’s ‘Prevent, Transform, Cure’ manifesto and help the thousands of people in Chesterfield living every day with the pain of arthritis.

Toby said, “I became an Arthritis Champion earlier this year and have been working to put issues affecting people

with arthritis at the forefront of Parliament’s agenda. I call on the Government to ensure arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions are a public health priority. It is vital that the NHS improve access to services and that we provide real support to people with arthritis to help them continue to work and lead independent lives.

Arthritis is the single biggest cause of disability and pain across the country with 10 million people living with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain. The pain, fatigue and lack of mobility caused by arthritis affects every aspect of a person’s life, making everyday tasks such as making a cup of tea, travelling to work or getting out of bed extremely difficult.

As well as the personal impact, these conditions amount to the third largest area of NHS spending, with an annual budget of £4.8 billion, and are the cause of one in five working days lost in the UK.

Toby said, “arthritis and related conditions are the third largest area of NHS spending, costing an estimated £4.8 billion every year. They are also the cause of one in every five working days lost in the UK. BY improving the support available and investing in research, we can transform people’s lives and reduce the impact on our economy.”