AS it is +2 days post Guy Fawkes night

AS it is 7/11 at the Palace of Westminster - NASS Campaign

Thesaurus: Adv.1.as it is - in the actual state of affairs and often contrary to expectations

The average time it takes to diagnose Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is 8.5 years. Yes, you heard it right. This is the actual state of affairs and certainly contrary to what we would expect.

We can do better. We need to make it happen. We can make it happen.

I was in Parliament today 7/11 at the launch of the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society's (NASS) 'AS it is' campaign. The reception was hosted by Huw Irranca-Davies MP and Andrew George MP.

'AS it is' aims to set a higher standard of care for people with AS. This follows the whole journey from diagnosis to treatment to follow up. This calls for better access to treatment, physiotherapy and employment support. Debbie Cook, NASS Director, summed this up eloquently in her speech.

'AS it is' also calls for more. It calls for the introduction of a national clinical guidance and quality standard of care for AS patients. Peter Kay, National Clinical Director for MSK services spoke about the need for better detection of inflammatory back pain (IBP) and access to services for patients with AS.

As I go around 'preaching' the IBP message to GPs and allied health professionals in primary care, I hope it will make early detection a reality. Early detection improves outcomes.

So as we recall +2 days post the Gunpowder plot of 1605, today there was a real sense of explosion and bang at the launch of 'AS it is'. Let's do our part to make it happen. #AS_it_is

Houses of Parliament 7/11 NASS Campaign

With Debbie Cook, NASS Director at launch of 'AS it is'

At the NASS reception, Houses of Parliament

@synovialjoints

Views are my own. These are opinions and cannot replace the need to see your physician for review of your individual medical condition.