New Government, new opportunities to improve inflammatory arthritis care14 August 2026 NRAS responds to changes in the UK Government and the Department of Health and Social Care. The appointment of a new Prime Minister and a refreshed ministerial team at the Department of Health and Social Care marks an important moment for health policy across the UK. For people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), this is a chance to ensure that inflammatory arthritis and wider musculoskeletal (MSK) health are recognised as essential to prevention, healthier lives and a stronger NHS. Whilst this will have more of an effect on those living in England, we think that the policies and shifts that come about under this new team will have impacts felt across the devolved nations. The new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Yvette Cooper MP, and the wider DHSC ministerial team will be responsible for taking forward major ambitions for the NHS and social care. This includes improving access to care, shifting more support into communities, making better use of innovation and helping people stay well for longer. Why this matters for people with RA and JIA RA and JIA are long-term autoimmune conditions that can affect every part of a person’s life, including mobility, work, education, family life and mental wellbeing. Around 450,000 people in the UK live with RA and about 12,000 children are living with RA. Early diagnosis, timely referral to specialist rheumatology services, access to the right medicines and ongoing support are all vital to helping people live well. We have a clear message for the new Government: MSK health must not be seen as a niche issue. MSK issues affect about 20 million people across the UK. Good MSK health helps people remain independent, stay active, manage long-term conditions and participate in work, education and community life. For people with RA and JIA, this means policies that support earlier diagnosis, better coordinated care and services that understand the fluctuating and often invisible nature of inflammatory arthritis. NRAS’s message to ministers NRAS will continue to work constructively with ministers and policymakers within the NHS to make sure the voices of people with RA and JIA are heard. We want to see inflammatory arthritis included in national conversations about prevention, neighbourhood health, long-term condition care, medicines access, workforce planning and reducing health inequalities. In particular, we believe the new Government should focus on: Earlier diagnosis and referral so that people with suspected RA or JIA can access specialist care quickly. Timely, equitable access to treatment, including medicines, monitoring and multidisciplinary support. Better support in local communities, while protecting access to specialist rheumatology expertise. Recognition of work, education and family life as important outcomes for people living with inflammatory arthritis. Meaningful involvement of lived experience in the design of policy, services and patient information. A chance to get this right The Government has an opportunity to put inflammatory arthritis and MSK health at the heart of its plans for a healthier nation. Doing so would not only improve outcomes for people living with RA and JIA, but also help reduce pressure on the NHS, support people to remain active and independent and strengthen communities. NRAS looks forward to engaging with the new ministerial team and continuing to champion the needs of everyone affected by RA and JIA across the UK. Written by Sadé Asker, Senior Policy Officer at NRAS