Northern Ireland – The Silent Treatment: arthritis diagnosis delays are leaving too many people in pain and uncertainty.

26 May 2026

The Silent Treatment: arthritis diagnosis delays leaving too many in pain and in limbo

Belfast, 26 May 2026: Too many people with arthritis are being left in pain, uncertainty and without vital support while waiting for a diagnosis, according to a new report from Arthritis UK. 

With more than 10 million adults, young people and children in the UK living with arthritis, the charity warns that delays in an arthritis diagnosis can have major consequences for people’s health, work and independence. The uncertainty of not knowing what is wrong can also take a major toll on mental wellbeing, make conditions harder to treat, while creating wider costs for the NHS and the economy.

The Silent Treatment: Why an Arthritis diagnosis matters reveals that delays are often caused not by one single long wait, but by a series of barriers across the diagnosis pathway. Symptoms may be dismissed as minor, mistaken for ageing or work-related strain, or not recognised as arthritis at all. Once people seek help, they can face further hurdles such as difficulty getting appointments, delays accessing tests, or long waits for specialist referrals. 

Last year, Arthritis UK’s report, Left Waiting, Left Behind: The Reality of Living with Arthritis highlighted the scale of the problem. Among respondents with a diagnosis, 38% said getting a diagnosis took too long and 54% reported unreasonable waits or delays to see the relevant specialist. 

This new report builds on that evidence by piecing together how these delays are experienced in real life. 

Drawing on lived experience workshops and focus groups, as well as input from health and care professionals, the report found that diagnosis is about far more than a medical label. For many, it provides reassurance, recognition and a route to treatment, information and support after months or years of pain and uncertainty. The sense of finally knowing that pain and symptoms were real and recognised was an area many found hugely comforting. This benefit is reflected in the charity's previous findings, with 62% agreeing that receiving a diagnosis validated their experiences .

One focus group participant said: “A diagnosis helped me feel like I wasn’t going mad.”

Another said: “The validation is so important. It gives you a huge sense of relief that you haven’t been imagining it. It would have been really good to have had that some years earlier, when I was still working and in so much pain”

Arthritis UK says these experiences highlight the urgent need for UK governments to prioritise arthritis and related conditions and support health and care professionals operating in an already stretched system. This could be faster, clearer routes to diagnosis with improved training for healthcare staff, including better recognition of symptoms, timely referral to specialist care and tailored support for people while they wait and at the point of diagnosis. 

Case Study: Pat O’Connor, 68, from Belfast is one of the 550,000 people in Northern Ireland living with a musculoskeletal (MSK) condition like arthritis.  

She started getting pain in her left knee around 20 years ago, but it went away, then, four years ago, it started again becoming worse. About three years ago Pat went to the doctor and an x-ray showed she had arthritis in her knee. 

Following her x-ray, she was given painkillers and a two physio appointments after being diagnosed with arthritis and believes that a lack of information and support was instrumental in her being forced to retire early.   

Despite having her x-ray and physiotherapy appointment over three years ago Pat still feels in the dark about her condition, with no one ever giving her a full diagnosis, or being told what type of arthritis she has and how to manage it.  

“It has been an incredibly difficult process to receive a diagnosis and treatment. There are many hurdles and dead ends to overcome at a time when you are feeling unwell and very vulnerable. 

Ultimately it cost me my job as work became harder and I retired in April 2024, even though I felt I’d so much more to give, which left me feeling useless and wondering what my life was going to be. 

I was very low and at times felt so depressed, like life was over for me. There was such a lack of information. If someone had just taken a few minutes rather than assuming I knew where to start with researching myself, just a few minutes to tell me, to explain different types of arthritis and the effect then it may have had less on an impact on my life.”  

Sara Graham, Head of Northern Ireland at Arthritis UK:

“People with arthritis in Northern Ireland are waiting far too long for answers and support while living with pain and worsening symptoms.

“Getting the right diagnosis quickly can be life changing. When diagnosis is delayed, people are left in pain, uncertainty and without the support, treatment and information they need. In some cases, conditions may worsen while people wait, causing long-term damage and leaving people feeling isolated and alone.

“Delayed diagnosis has a wider cost. When people cannot access the care they need, it can affect their ability to work, care for families or live independently, while placing further pressure on our already stretched health services.

“Northern Ireland’s health system cannot afford for arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions to continue to be overlooked. Faster routes to diagnosis, earlier intervention, better awareness and support must become a national priority.”

Arthritis UK is launching this report as part of Arthritis Awareness Month running throughout May.

About Arthritis UK

Arthritis UK is the leading arthritis charity, changing lives through research, campaigning and support. 

Over 10 million adults, young people and children in the UK live with arthritis. That’s one in six of us living with the pain, fatigue, disability, mental and financial strain it can cause. Many more live with arthritis but remain undiagnosed, untreated and unsupported. 

We know the impact of arthritis can be huge, affecting the ability to work, care for family, move free from pain and live independently. Yet for a condition affecting so many, it’s poorly understood and far too little is done. That’s why we invest in life-changing research into better treatments, support people through the daily challenges of life with arthritis, and campaign on the issues that matter most to people living with it. 

At Arthritis UK, we won’t rest until everyone with arthritis has access to treatments and support they need to live the life they choose, with real hope for a cure in the future. Find out more at: www.arthritis-uk.org 

Arthritis UK. For a future free from arthritis.  

•    The Silent Treatment: Why an Arthritis diagnosis matters, is a new report from Arthritis UK exploring the human and systemic impact of delays to arthritis diagnosis. 
•    The report draws on lived experience workshops and focus groups with people living with arthritis across the UK, alongside previous research on access to appointments, tests and specialist care, which is referenced in the notes.
•    Arthritis UK are launching this report as part of Arthritis Awareness Month, a 50-year-old initiative led by the US Arthritis foundation. Taking part for the first time this year, Arthritis UK are aiming to support and establish an annual global moment focused on arthritis and its impact on lives, communities and health services.
•    The word 'arthritis' is used to describe pain, swelling and stiffness in a joint or joints. Arthritis isn’t a single condition and there are several different types. Around 10 million people in the UK are thought to have arthritis. It can affect people of all ages – even children and teenagers. Some forms of arthritis are more common in older people.
•    Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis linked to psoriasis where the immune system attacks the body’s joints, causing inflammation, swelling, stiffness, pain and damage to the joints. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition affecting the skin and around 1 in 4 people who have psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis. Some people may develop psoriatic arthritis without noticeable skin psoriasis. Prevalence: 200,000 people in the UK have a probable diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.
•    Early diagnosis can improve access to treatment, pain management, self-management support and, for some conditions, help prevent permanent joint damage. 
•    Delays to diagnosis can affect physical health, mental wellbeing, employment, finances and independence. 
•    Interviews are available with case studies and spokespeople from Arthritis UK
•    For more information, contact the Press Office: press@arthritis-uk.org | 0300 7900456