The Scottish Report: Improving Care for People Living with Inflammatory Conditions
The new Scotland‑wide survey by NRAS, The Scottish Report, has revealed significant challenges faced by people living with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. These are long‑term, often invisible conditions that can affect joints, organs, skin and the bowel, and impact around one in ten people.
The Scottish Report is based on the results of the NRAS survey carried out in Autumn 2025, with over 1,250 respondents from across Scotland. This highlights delays in diagnosis and ongoing care, unequal access to services, and a lack of support to help people manage their conditions. Around a third of people waited 3 or more months before seeking medical help and then over 50% reported needing three or more GP appointments before being referred to a specialist. Waiting times for secondary care appointments were longer than recommended and 25% were outside of the 18-week referral standard. Early diagnosis is crucial for preventing long‑term damage, yet fewer than one in three people living with rheumatoid arthritis were seen within six weeks of referral – the recommended time frame.
Living with an inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis has a major impact on daily life. Nearly three‑quarters of respondents said their condition significantly affects their quality of life and over half said it regularly limits everyday activities. People in rural and island communities often face additional barriers, including long travel times to appointments and less access to specialist teams.
The report also found that many people are missing out on vital information and support. Almost half were not referred to a patient organisation at diagnosis and only a quarter of those diagnosed in recent years felt confident managing their condition on their own.
The Scottish Report calls for earlier diagnosis, better coordinated care, improved access to multidisciplinary teams, and routine referral to patient organisations—so people across Scotland can live better, healthier lives with inflammatory conditions.