§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made by the NHS in providing treatment for arthritis sufferers. [133826]
§ Dr. LadymanThe Government is aware that arthritis is a major cause of disability in the United Kingdom and that it has a significant impact, not only on health and community services, but also on the people who experience its painful symptoms. We are sympathetic to the needs of patients with arthritis and have helped make new generation drugs for arthritis treatment such as etanercept and infliximab available to National Health Service patients.
Maximum waiting times have fallen over the past few years and will continue to do so. By the end of 2005, the maximum waiting time for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant will fall to three months and the maximum wait for inpatient treatment will fall to six months. This will help all NHS patients, including those with arthritis.
Over the years 2003–04 to 2007–08, expenditure on the NHS in England will increase on average by 7.4 per cent., a year over and above inflation—a total increase over the period of 43 per cent., in real terms. This will 730W take the total spent on the NHS in England from 56 billion in 2002–03 to over 90 billion in 2007–08 and lead to better services for all patients.