National Voices blog - Elective doesn't mean optional (14 February 2022)

Summary

In this blog for National Voices, Sue Brown, CEO of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance, argues that using the word 'elective' when referring to elective surgery is misleading, and downplays the seriousness of waiting for a long time for treatment or surgery. She looks at the impact of waiting too long for surgery such as joint replacement on the lives of patients. Intense, long term pain and loss of mobility can lead to deteriorating mental health, isolation from friends and family and job loss, among other things. Patients needs support while they wait for surgery, and Sue outlines what she believes is needed to support patients who have had community and secondary care delayed:

• Design support with those with lived experience – ask what is important to them.
• Use the things we know can help, like social prescribing and health coaching – individual or group personal support.
• Use the voluntary and community sector who have a wealth of experience in supporting long term condition management – people need to know they are not alone and get support from others in the same situation.