The NHS People Plan will develop a new offer for our people through which they will have voice and support including a focus on improved mental health.<\/p>
This will build on progress implementing mental health standards in \u2018Thriving at Work \u2013 a review of mental health and employers\u2019, which have been included in NHS Standard Contracts and embedded in the National Health Service staff health and wellbeing framework.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4065", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thurrock"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jackie Doyle-Price"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-18T14:50:57.76Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Mental Health"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What steps he is taking to help protect the mental health of NHS staff.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4450", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Luke Hall"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thornbury and Yate"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Luke Hall"} ], "uin" : "911417"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132763", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132763/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Patient safety remains a key priority for the National Health Service. NHS Improvement and NHS England are developing a new National Patient Safety Strategy that will sit alongside the NHS Long Term Plan.<\/p>
The strategy will be published this summer and will build on existing work to provide a coherent framework that the whole NHS can recognise and support<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-18T15:03:47.607Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Patients: Safety"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What steps he is taking to ensure NHS patient safety.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4109", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jeremy Lefroy"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stafford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jeremy Lefroy"} ], "uin" : "911420"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132766", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132766/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Local authorities have a duty to ensure people receive appropriate care and support. We have given them access to up to £3.9 billion more dedicated funding for adult social care this year, and a further £410 million has been made available for adult and children\u2019s services.<\/p>
We will set out our plans to reform the social care system at the earliest opportunity to ensure it is sustainable for the future.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-18T15:02:18.803Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Services"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What steps he is taking to improve social care.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thirsk and Malton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Kevin Hollinrake"} ], "uin" : "911424"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132107", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132107/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Information on the number of hospices which have closed in England since 2010 is not held.<\/p>
There are currently around 223 registered independent hospices, and a very small number of public hospices run internally by National Health Service trusts. Around a quarter of these are children\u2019s hospices. The vast majority of hospices are primarily charity-funded but receive some statutory funding from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the Government for providing local services. CCGs are responsible for determining the level of NHS-funded hospice care locally and they are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs of their local population.<\/p>
As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England committed to increase its investment in children\u2019s palliative care over the next five years by match funding CCGs who commit to increase their investment in local children\u2019s palliative and end of life care services.<\/p>
Subject to CCGs increasing investment, NHS England will match this by up to £7 million a year by 2023/24. This increase is in addition to the Children\u2019s Hospice Grant, which provides an annual contribution of £11 million. NHS England is currently establishing financial reporting systems to monitor the baseline investment of CCG in children\u2019s palliative and end of life care services. This will enable match funding payments to be made to CCGs where the investments are increased above the investment baseline in the previous year. As baselining will be ongoing through 2019/20, and therefore match funding will not be available in this year, NHS England will be increasing the children\u2019s hospice grant to £12 million for this period.<\/p>
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<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "264390"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-18T14:49:29.84Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hospices: Children"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of children's hospices in England; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support for hospices provided by his Department.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4077", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emma Reynolds"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wolverhampton North East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emma Reynolds"} ], "uin" : "264389"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132108", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132108/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Information on the number of hospices which have closed in England since 2010 is not held.<\/p>
There are currently around 223 registered independent hospices, and a very small number of public hospices run internally by National Health Service trusts. Around a quarter of these are children\u2019s hospices. The vast majority of hospices are primarily charity-funded but receive some statutory funding from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the Government for providing local services. CCGs are responsible for determining the level of NHS-funded hospice care locally and they are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs of their local population.<\/p>
As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England committed to increase its investment in children\u2019s palliative care over the next five years by match funding CCGs who commit to increase their investment in local children\u2019s palliative and end of life care services.<\/p>
Subject to CCGs increasing investment, NHS England will match this by up to £7 million a year by 2023/24. This increase is in addition to the Children\u2019s Hospice Grant, which provides an annual contribution of £11 million. NHS England is currently establishing financial reporting systems to monitor the baseline investment of CCG in children\u2019s palliative and end of life care services. This will enable match funding payments to be made to CCGs where the investments are increased above the investment baseline in the previous year. As baselining will be ongoing through 2019/20, and therefore match funding will not be available in this year, NHS England will be increasing the children\u2019s hospice grant to £12 million for this period.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
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<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "264389"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-18T14:49:29.903Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hospices: Children"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children's hospices have closed in England in each year since 2010; and in which regions of England were those hospices located.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4077", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emma Reynolds"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wolverhampton North East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emma Reynolds"} ], "uin" : "264390"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131610", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131610/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
This data is not collected centrally. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating of all providers \u2013 both National Health Service and independent sector - will vary over time and between the CQC\u2019s visits. There is a clear process to be followed should a provider receive an inadequate rating to understand the reasons for that rating and the impact on patient care in that unit. This review will inform any required commissioner action.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-17T15:32:20.087Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Health Services: Autism and Learning Disability"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patient placements commissioned by NHS England through (a) central and (b) local commissioning functions on hospital wards run by independent providers for (i) learning disabilities and (ii) autism services were rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission in each of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1588", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Keeley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worsley and Eccles South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Barbara Keeley"} ], "uin" : "263786"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131611", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131611/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
This data is not collected centrally. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating of all providers \u2013 both National Health Service and independent sector - will vary over time and between the CQC\u2019s visits. There is a clear process to be followed should a provider receive an inadequate rating to understand the reasons for that rating and the impact on patient care in that unit. This review will inform any required commissioner action.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-17T15:33:43.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Mental Health Services: Children and Young People"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patient placements commissioned by NHS England through (a) central and (b) local commissioning functions on hospital wards run by independent providers providing services for children and young people with mental health conditions were rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission in each of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1588", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Keeley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worsley and Eccles South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Barbara Keeley"} ], "uin" : "263787"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131616", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131616/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The arm\u2019s length bodies concerned do not collect information in a way that would enable them to answer this question in the format requested.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-17T15:42:04.607Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Legal Costs"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much was money was spent by (a) NHS England, (b) NHS Trusts, (c) Health Education England and (d) NHS Improvement on the services of (a) Bevan Brittan, (b) Mills & Reeve, (c) DAC Beechcroft, (d) Hempsons, (e) Capsticks and (f) Hill Dickinson in relation to employment and whistleblower disputes in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1439", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Lamb"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Norfolk"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Norman Lamb"} ], "uin" : "263752"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131666", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131666/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
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\u2019 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\u2019s qualifying exams.<\/p>
No specific assessment has been made on the adequacy of access to specialist rheumatologists, however the National institute for Health and Care Excellence\u2019s (NICE) Quality Standard \u2018Rheumatoid arthritis in over 16s\u2019, 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>
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>
More information can be found at the following link:<\/p>
www.rheumatology.org.uk/Knowledge/Excellence/Audits<\/a><\/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> www.hqip.org.uk/national-programmes/a-z-of-nca/arthritis-rheumatoid-and-early-inflammatory<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4455", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Seema Kennedy"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Ribble"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Seema Kennedy"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "263717"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-17T14:54:50.673Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Arthritis: Diagnosis"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of training for GPs in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/450", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tony Lloyd"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochdale"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tony Lloyd"}
], "uin" : "263716"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131669", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131669/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 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\u2019 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\u2019s qualifying exams.<\/p> No specific assessment has been made on the adequacy of access to specialist rheumatologists, however the National institute for Health and Care Excellence\u2019s (NICE) Quality Standard \u2018Rheumatoid arthritis in over 16s\u2019, 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> 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> More information can be found at the following link:<\/p>