Press releases
NHS bodies must stop breaking guidelines and ‘rationing’ surgery
26 March 2026
Arthritis UK is calling on NHS Integrated Care Boards in England to stop flouting guidelines by rationing surgery based on a person’s BMI (body mass index). In its new report, it has found almost one fifth (19%) of ICBs across England that have policies in place that refuse or delay joint replacement surgery based solely on an individual’s weight, breaching National Institute for Care and Excellence Guidelines and Government policy.
Our latest statements
19 March 2026
Join Arthritis UK in advocating for better arthritis care for young people in Northern Ireland. Discover stories and insights from those affected this WORD Day.
Young people's WORD day12 March 2026
Join Haider Khan and the University of Cardiff's Vocaloid Society on March 15 for a charity concert supporting Arthritis UK, helping children like his sister who is living with JIA.
JIA charity concertAlternative bone cement suppliers have been found to minimise disruption to joint replacement surgery
25 February 2025
Deborah Alsina of Arthritis UK praises NHS England and Wales for swiftly finding alternative bone cement suppliers, ensuring joint replacement surgeries continue smoothly.
Alternative suppliers found18 February 2026
A global supply shortage of cement used in knee and hip replacements is likely to lead to cancellations and delays for many people expecting orthopaedic surgery.
The bone cement crisis17 February 2026
Health Survey for England finds one in four people in England report experiencing chronic pain and 39% of these people living with a musculoskeletal condition.
Arthritis UK's response3 February 2026
An escalating musculoskeletal health crisis in Northern Ireland, as more than 550,000 people — nearly one third of the population — living with arthritis or an MSK condition.
Read the NI MSK health report29 January 2026
Professor Stuart Ralston retired from his position as Arthritis UK’s Endowed Chair of Rheumatology, having held the position for over 20 years. His research had a special interest in Paget’s disease.
Professor Ralston retires11 December 2025
A 27-year-old woman with psoriatic arthritis, Christie Adams, has become the face of a national campaign to raise awareness of arthritis and explain the impact and severity of living with the condition.
Arthritis awareness campaign21 November 2025
Arthritis UK's TikTok challenge which aims to change the way we see arthritis, often dismissed as an older person’s condition. Around 10,000 young people under the age of 16 are living with arthritis in the UK.
The Arthur Tut physio but fun13 November 2025
Figures released by NHS England reveal the number of cases waiting for Trauma and Orthopaedic Treatment surgery has fallen slightly for the first time in six months but lack of real progress leaves thousands in pain.
Dip in NHS waiting lists5 November 2025
The 'Keep Britain Working' Review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, responds to the UK's rising economically inactive population, with over one-in-five working-age adults out of the workforce due to ill health.
'Keep Britain Working' Review17 October 2025
The prospect of long-lasting, drug-free remission for children and adults living with inflammatory arthritis is a step closer to becoming a reality, thanks to the ARCADIA consortium enabled by £3m of funding from Arthritis UK.
£3m Arcadia global study14 October 2025
In October 2025, Versus Arthritis became Arthritis UK with a bold and exciting new look in consultation with our arthritis community. 'Versus Arthritis’ was seen as a barrier to reaching and engaging more people.
Versus Arthritis is Arthritis UK11 August 2025
The Government announced plans for England’s first Men’s Health Strategy, aimed at addressing the life expectancy gap and health conditions that disproportionately affect men. We helped shape the strategy.
The Men's Health Strategy03 July 2025
With 10 million people living with arthritis in the UK, many being let down by a system ill-equipped to meet their often complex needs, there’s a desperate need for an ambitious and clear plan to change the NHS.
The 10 Year Plan for England