Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the risk to people with arthritis, waiting for joint replacement surgery, of (a) difficult pain management, (b) reduced mobility, (c) risk of other health complications, including depression and obesity as a result of a lack of mobility and (d) having more complications after surgery in the event that deterioration is experienced while waiting for surgery.

No formal assessment has been made. However, the ‘2021/22 priorities and operational planning guidance: October 2021 – March 2022’ asks trusts to engage fully in the national clinical validation and prioritisation programme to ensure continued improvement in waiting list data with regular clinical validation and prioritisation, including for patients with arthritis.

Work is underway to evaluate patient support and to develop regional and system strategies focused on those who are waiting for elective surgery, including patients waiting for joint replacement surgery.