Mike backs Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week

Earlier today, Swansea Labour AM Mike Hedges met up with NRAS Ambassador Cynthia Rees and Swansea resident Peter Jones to help launch national Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week at the National Assembly for Wales.

As part of the launch of Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) released a major new report called Invisible Disease: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Chronic Fatigue that highlighted shocking new evidence about the high impact chronic fatigue has on people with rheumatoid arthritis and the urgent need to improve its management.

The report surveyed 1, 954 people with RA across the UK and found that chronic fatigue is a widespread symptom, with 89% of people with RA reporting that they experienced chronic fatigue, and 94% saying that their episodes of chronic fatigue lasted several hours or all day. The report also highlighted the significant impact chronic fatigue has on work. 71% of unemployed people of working age with the disease said their fatigue had contributed to their inability to work and an overwhelming 83% said they felt the public was not at all aware of the impact that chronic fatigue on people with RA.

Speaking in support of national Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week, AM Mike Hedges said:

“I’m delighted to lend my support to national RA Awareness Week to help raise the profile of this chronic autoimmune disease, which affects so many people in Swansea and Wales.

Commenting on the NRAS report findings, the Swansea AM added:

“The findings in the new NRAS report on the impact of chronic fatigue are truly shocking, which is why I’ll be working closely with the charity and its members to help improve care and reduce variations in the quality of services for patients.”