First Minister: Don’t turn your back on arthritis 

Arthritis UK Scotland has launched an open letter calling on the First Minister to commit to an MSK Action Plan for Scotland.  

1.7 million Scots live with a musculoskeletal (MSK) condition like arthritis. That’s one in three people living with daily pain, fatigue and disability.  
 
But time and again, successive governments have turned their backs on our community.    

Arthritis is one of the only major conditions without a strategy in Scotland. And in 27 years of the devolved parliament, there’s never been a dedicated debate on it. This silence speaks volumes.   

That’s why we’ve worked with four incredible campaigners – Amy, Bobby, Ken and Mairi – to launch an open letter to the First Minister, John Swinney MSP, demanding that this Scottish Government is the first to face arthritis head on.   

What will an MSK Action Plan do?  

We’re calling for an MSK Action Plan that will improve services across Scotland by: 

1. Helping people get the right diagnosis and support sooner for common conditions like back pain, neck pain and osteoarthritis, reducing pain and improving quality of life.  
2. Helping more people stay active for longer by making movement and physical activity central to improving MSK health, supporting people at home and in the community.   
3. Making sure everyone with osteoarthritis can live well by improving essential support like education and weight management – whether they need surgery or not.  
4. Helping people maintain their independence and take control of their condition through better rehabilitation and supported self-management.  
5. Driving system-wide improvements through strong leadership across the NHS and government, making sure MSK health gets the focus and investment it deserves.  
6. Delivering better care and fairer outcomes by improving how MSK data is collected and used, to better understand and respond to the needs of local communities across Scotland.  

We need a plan that will make sure every person with arthritis gets the care and support they need – whenever they need it and wherever they live. So that everyone with arthritis in Scotland isn’t just surviving, but flourishing. 

How can I support? 

Help us build momentum and make this call a reality. Join Amy, Bobby, Ken and Mairi by signing our open letter today.