Results of the NRAS Survey on the Role of

the Rheumatology Nurse Specialist

22/03/07: NRAS

Importance of Rheumatology Nurse Specialists highlighted by new survey by the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society - Thank you to everyone who contributed to this survey!

We received almost 1000 responses and will be using the information to demonstrate the importance of the Specialist Rheumatology Nurse.

The survey revealed that four-fifths of patients believe that Nurse Specialists are good value for money in the NHS, at a time when many of these nurse positions are under threat from NHS job cuts.

It highlighted that 37% of patients said they would contact their GP or ask for a consultant appointment if they didn’t have access to a nurse specialist when they had a problem with their disease, which would be a huge additional burden on the consultant, GP time and NHS resources.

The Rheumatology Nurse Specialist is often the cornerstone of the multi-disciplinary team as far as rheumatoid arthritis patients are concerned. Consultant Rheumatologists focus on getting the patient established on the right treatment and monitoring their reaction to the range of drugs which they have to take. Often they have less time to be able to help their patients come to terms with a diagnosis of RA however much they would like to – a crucial role that the Nurse Specialist plays.

One of the vital roles performed by the Nurse Specialist is that of being able to talk through all the emotional issues and fears a patient may have following diagnosis and also explain and answer questions about the drug therapy a patient has been started on. The survey findings support the important role that the Nurse Specialist plays in patient care:

• Nearly 85% of patients felt that nurses added a lot of value to their care
• Asked whether they would rather see the Nurse Specialist or another Doctor who didn’t know them, nearly 86% said they would rather see the nurse.
• In answer to the question ‘when you have a problem with your RA have you contacted the Nurse Specialist’, 78% answered ‘yes’ and of those, 75% said that this had been helpful.
• In answer to the question ‘if you have a bad flare or other emergency related to your RA can you access help quickly?’, 61% said that they could access help through a nurse-led helpline either the same day or within 24 hours which is very reassuring for patients.

The most important thing that patients value about their Nurse Specialist is the ability to access rapid review and treatment with over 41% selecting this option.

Ailsa Bosworth , Chief Executive of NRAS and who has had RA for 26 years, comments: “We know from research that people who are more informed and educated about their disease and its impact on the body, are able to self manage effectively and have better long term outcomes. Nurses play a vital role in the care of people with RA and we are very concerned at the prospect of losing their knowledge and expertise in the current round of NHS cuts.”

About the Survey:

• 964 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) took part in the survey from throughout the UK. Nurses advised patients the survey was being undertaken and individuals logged onto NRAS website to download the questionnaire.

About NRAS:

• The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) was launched in October 2001 and in a relatively short time has become established as the campaigning voice in the UK for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• NRAS provides a total one-stop-shop with support, information and advocacy for all people in the UK with RA, their carers and families.
• NRAS has a national volunteer network, a group of people with the disease who provide peer to peer support and provide additional resource to help NRAS in many different ways.

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