With numbers on the NHS waiting list at a record high of 7.75 million and rising, on the 30th of November 2023, ITV’s flagship current affairs programme ‘ITV Tonight’ focused on the huge waiting lists for joint replacement surgery: Tonight – Series 25 – Episode 35 – ITVX
With input from Versus Arthritis, Dr Zoe Williams investigates the health impacts on the estimated one million-plus people currently waiting, in some cases for years, for trauma and orthopaedic treatment. The programme looked behind those figures and into the lives of those waiting in pain for transformative orthopaedic treatment, explored whether surgery is the only option for patients in severe pain, and discussed how people can wait as well as possible whilst awaiting treatment.
Two Versus Arthritis spokespeople were interviewed for the programme. On the clinical side, Dr Benjamin Ellis spoke about treatment for arthritis and the impact that waiting a long time for joint replacement surgery can have on the body. Zoe Chivers, Director of Services and Influencing, spoke about the challenges people with the condition face being on NHS waiting lists, as well as outlining the support and free resources that Versus Arthritis have created to help those waiting and recovering from surgery. Mary Cowern (Head of Wales at VA), who has rheumatoid arthritis, spoke about her knee replacement surgery that she waited two years and ten months for.
Versus Arthritis urges the Government to help end people’s pain by making sure operations go ahead all year, supporting people while they wait, and not leaving people in the dark. Versus Arthritis recommends that:
- The Government must continue rolling out surgical hubs, which offer a protected space for operations to go ahead even when the NHS is under pressure. This would enable more operations to be done with fewer cancellations during the busiest months.
- The Government must make pain, mental health, and physical activity services accessible to everyone who needs them while they wait for surgery.
- Hospitals must update patients regularly about how much longer they’ll be waiting – and how they can be supported.
With questions or for further information please contact policy@versusarthritis.org