The Voice of Arthritis 2011
A new report estimates there are 2.6 million Australians with inadequate care, who are needlessly suffering pain, have difficulty getting about and are being disadvantaged at work. They feel let down by general practitioners, specialists and the health care system.
Arthritis Australia commissioned a survey of Australians living with arthritis and found that you can compare three people with the same kind of arthritis, of the same severity, who’ve had it for the same length of time and have the same level of education and income – yet their arthritis has very different effects on their lives at home and work.
The ones who do worse have less access to GPs, physiotherapists and specialists, appear to be receiving less adequate care when they do see these clinicians, have less access to information about their arthritis and are spending more money out of pocket on getting treated.
The study shows people suffering from arthritis having to wait weeks to see their GP; getting an appointment with their specialist is even harder and then when they do find treatment they are significantly out of pocket.
The study shows clearly that the impact of arthritis on a person’s life and work is not understood.
