New collaboration with NHS England to reduce time to diagnosis

NASS, in collaboration with NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, is pleased to announce the launch of its Axial Spondyloarthritis Playbook: reducing the time to diagnosis and improving patient experience. Drawing together the data and learning from our Act on Axial SpA campaign, the playbook aims to accelerate efforts to reduce the time to diagnosis for this condition and provide the best information and supported self-management to those newly diagnosed, by supporting healthcare professionals to implement a set of actions in their local areas. The Playbook is closely aligned to GIRFT’s national best practice pathway for axial spondyloarthritis.

Act on Axial SpA is a multi-faceted programme whose long-term goal is that people with axial SpA across the UK people are diagnosed within twelve months of symptom onset. It includes public awareness campaigns, education and training for healthcare professionals, quality improvement interventions, research, and policy and Parliamentary activity. It is a partnership with Professor Karl Gaffney  (Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) and Professor Raj Sengupta (Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust) and is funded by UCB Pharma.

Dr Lesley Kay, National Clinical Director for musculoskeletal conditions with NHS England said: “I am delighted to see this Playbook launched which represents a further development of the work between NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time team and the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society towards the shared aim of improving access to the right care for people with axial spondyloarthritis.”

Dr Dale Webb, NASS CEO, said: “From our campaign over the last four years we have learned a great deal about how to reduce diagnostic delay. We are delighted to have the support of GIRFT as we work to make that learning available across the NHS through this new resource.”

NASS is developing a suite of materials to support implementation, including an online tutorial giving guidance on how to use the tool.

You can find the ‘Axial Spondyloarthritis Playbook: reducing the time to diagnosis and improving patient experience’ and find out how you can work to reduce the time to diagnosis in your area here.