Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Although the exact cause of JIA is unknown, the symptoms often improve as a child gets older, meaning they can lead a normal life. Services for children with arthritis are provided separately by specialist paediatric rheumatology teams under the umbrella of paediatric services.

NHS England has commissioned a Respond and Advise Clinical Reference Group for paediatric specialised rheumatology. As part of this, it has commissioned a service specification available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/e03-paedi-medi-rheum.pdf

Service specifications are important in clearly defining the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care. The specifications have been developed by specialised clinicians, commissioners, expert patients and public health representatives to describe both core and developmental service standards.

To support young people with arthritis transitioning from child to adult health services, each integrated care board (ICB) has an Executive Lead for Children and Young People. This lead is responsible for ensuring the functions of their ICBs work in the best interests of children and young people, including those with arthritis.

As set out in the Long Term Plan, NHS England is working to ensure that no child or young person will be lost in the gaps between children’s and adults’ services. In addition, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance for healthcare practitioners and commissioners to support young people with cerebral palsy during their transition from children to adult’s services. Specific recommendations include clear pathways for transition and a named support worker.

A range of Government initiatives are supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including arthritis, to start, stay, and succeed in work.

These include:

• Increasing Work Coach support in Jobcentres for people with health conditions receiving Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance;
• Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres offering advice and expertise on how to help disabled people and people with health conditions into work;
• The Work and Health Programme and Intensive Personalised Employment Support, providing tailored and personalised support for participants;
• Access to Work grants towards extra costs of working beyond standard reasonable adjustments;
• Disability Confident, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and health, and to take positive action to address the issues disabled employees face in the workplace;
• The Information and Advice Service, providing better integrated and tailored guidance on supporting and managing health and disability in the workplace; and
• Support in partnership between the DWP and the health system.

To tackle rising economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, we announced a wide-reaching package at the Spring Budget to support disabled people and people with health conditions to work. New investment will provide faster access to joined-up work and health support, including for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions; the two leading causes of economic inactivity due to long term sickness.

Over the past five financial years, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has invested more than £100 million in funding and support for arthritis research. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. Therefore, future spend on arthritis research over the next five years is undetermined.

Over the past five financial years, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has invested more than £100 million in funding and support for arthritis research. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. Therefore, future spend on arthritis research over the next five years is undetermined.