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<p>General practice is where most patients with musculoskeletal conditions, including
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are likely to be managed, and the condition is identified
as a key area of clinical knowledge in the Royal College of General Practitioners’
Advanced Knowledge Test (AKT) content guide. The AKT is a summative assessment of
the knowledge base that underpins general practice in the United Kingdom within the
context of the National Health Service and is a key part of general practitioner’s
qualifying exams.</p><p>No specific assessment has been made on the adequacy of access
to specialist rheumatologists, however the National institute for Health and Care
Excellence’s (NICE) Quality Standard ‘Rheumatoid arthritis in over 16s’, updated in
July 2018, emphasises the need for early for urgent referral to a specialist rheumatologist
on suspicion of rheumatoid arthritis within three weeks.</p><p>In May 2018, a new
three-year Rheumatoid and Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit was commissioned by the
Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership. The Audit aims to improve the quality
of care for people living with inflammatory arthritis, collecting information on all
new patients over the age of 16 in specialist rheumatology departments with suspected
inflammatory arthritis in England and Wales using criteria derived from sources, including
the NICE rheumatoid arthritis Quality Standard. This includes assessment against the
NICE standard stating that patients with suspected with RA should be seen within three
weeks of referral to a rheumatology service.</p><p>More information can be found at
the following link:</p><p><a href="http://www.rheumatology.org.uk/Knowledge/Excellence/Audits"
target="_blank">www.rheumatology.org.uk/Knowledge/Excellence/Audits</a></p><p>The
findings of the Audit are due to be published in October 2019. However, previous Audit
reports can be found at the following link:</p><p><a href="http://www.hqip.org.uk/national-programmes/a-z-of-nca/arthritis-rheumatoid-and-early-inflammatory"
target="_blank">www.hqip.org.uk/national-programmes/a-z-of-nca/arthritis-rheumatoid-and-early-inflammatory</a></p><p>
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