Help us to raise awareness of the impact mental health has on those living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) by getting in touch with your MP.
Fill in a few details and an email will automatically be sent to your MP inviting them to Parliament on 1st November: nras.eaction.org.uk/mh-launch
Already done Kate, MPs replied and going to attend 👍
Done
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Already done not heard from MP yet
Already done but no response from MP which I'm not surprised
Done.
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Done, thank you nras for all your efforts
Just got a reply from my MP, who isn't attending but is at pains to point out he understands the issue... Reply as follows:
SHARMA, Virendra <virendra.sharma.mp@parliament.uk>
10th October 2018
Thank you for contacting me recently about rheumatoid arthritis and the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society's report on mental health.
There are roughly ten million people in the UK living with arthritis and this figure is expected to rise by 50% by 2030. However, this condition can often go unnoticed or ignored by individuals and wider society. I believe it is vital to raise awareness of this condition and I pay tribute to the many organisations and charities, including the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, for the work they do to support sufferers.
Arthritis can have a devastating impact on an individual's quality of life. It is a condition that can make life a very painful struggle and, without the right support, living with the symptoms can have a significant effect on a person's mental health and wellbeing.
An investigation by Arthritis Research UK finds that four in five people living with arthritis feel anxious or depressed due to their condition. Studies undertaken by King's College London have also seen an increased risk of inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients who suffer from depression.
Despite repeated promises by the Government to give mental health the same priority as physical health, mental health providers in England had less money in real terms to spend in 2016/17 than they did in 2011/12. There are 5,000 fewer mental health nurses than in 2010 and a review of the NHS Five Year Forward View found that money intended for mental health has been used to plug funding gaps in the wider NHS.
As you know, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society is expected to publish its report on mental health in November, unfortunately, I am unable to attend the launch of the report due to prior commitments. Nevertheless, I hope that Ministers consider the report carefully, listen to contributions of medical experts and to the expert opinion of those who experience arthritis and act to do more to help those suffering from the condition.
If the Government is to be taken seriously on mental health, I believe it must increase spending on services and ring-fence budgets to ensure that everyone living with arthritis and experiencing mental ill-health receive the support they need.
Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue.
Yours sincerely,
Virendra Sharma
Virendra Sharma
Member of Parliament for Ealing Southall
Here is an update after clicking the link. My MP has replied to me several times over this and today I am going to send her the link posed ref seeing your gp within three days. She has assured me she will get involved but we will see
I woul like to invite.
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