Written question asked by Howard Stoate (Labour) on Monday, 8 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 June 2009. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Friday, 12 June 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Arthritis: Health Services

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to provide patients with rheumatoid arthritis with (a) an effective treatment pathway and (b) an individual care management plan.

Answer: The Department has developed in partnership with a wide group of stakeholders an 18 weeks commissioning pathway for inflammatory arthritis. The pathway describes an ideal treatment pathway meeting all best practice guidance and recommends the use of individual care management plans for patients with this condition. The pathway will be published on 12 June 2009 on the 18 week website. The Department has also made a commitment in "High Quality Care for All", the final report of the NHS Next Stage Review that everyone with a long term condition will be offered a personalised care plan by 2010.

Secondary information