Improving services for people with osteoarthritis

By Francesca Holloway

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis in this country, with over 400,000 people affected. This number is expected to increase as the population ages. We know that often clients are told they have arthritis, they need to learn to live with it, and to come back when they cannot walk. A group of researchers, academics and health professionals are working to improve services for people with OA, emphasising developing a National Osteoarthritis Strategy that provides a range of options for consumers.

The inaugural New Zealand Osteoarthritis Summit ǀ Taumata Kaikōiwi Aotearoa was held in Wellington late last year to look at how we can improve the management of OA in New Zealand. The opening address was from Dr Andrew Connelly, Counties Manukau Chief Medical Officer and Chair of the government-appointed Planned Care Taskforce, which focused on looking at how waiting lists can be better managed. He highlighted that one of the challenges in doing this is to ensure nationally consistent criteria for prioritising placement on waiting lists. He also emphasised the importance of knowing the overall needs so there can be equitable management of resources and provision of care across regions. World OA expert Professor David Hunter of the University of Sydney/

Royal North Shore Hospital shared lessons from the Australian development of a model of care for OA. He emphasised that one of the keys to developing good OA care is strong linkages between health professionals, consumers, and advocacy organisations. This inclusivity has been pivotal.

Philip Kearney, CEO of Arthritis NZ, spoke on the NZIER report on the case for investment in nonsurgical guideline-informed models of care for OA of the hip and knee (see p.3) and Timi Tapara, Director/ Founder of Tū Tonu Health Centre in Hamilton, shared his inspiring and deeply personal journey relating to past OA injury as an aspiring rugby player. Dr Richard Griffiths, Research Manager at Arthritis NZ, addressed the significance of the consumer voice and the central role that consumers with OA will play in work being done to produce a National Osteoarthritis Strategy. His presentation featured video clips from people with OA who are part of Arthritis NZ’s Consumer Reference Group. They shared their lived experience of OA and provided an essential consumer voice.

If you would like to join our Consumer Reference Group call us on 0800663463 and ask to speak to Tory - she will be delighted to hear from you.

More details about the 2022 OA Summit can be viewed on the Arthritis NZ website: www.arthritis. org.nz/osteoarthritis-aotearoa-new-zealand/