Hundreds in Yeovil suffer from rheumatoid arthritis

ARE you, or is someone close to you, affected by rheumatoid arthritis? If so then you’re not alone.

An estimated 400 people in Yeovil live with the disease, many of whom are young people, still in the prime of their working life.

The Yeovil group of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society are hosting a meeting on Wednesday, May 8, for anyone affected by RA to come along and find out more about the disease and the care and support available. The meeting will be held at the Holy Trinity Church and Community Centre on Lysander Road, starting at 7pm.

The effects of RA are wide ranging and don’t just relate to those with the condition. In a recent NRAS survey, 57% of people said it had a negative effect on their household income, two-thirds were concerned about the impact RA had on their children, and 92% said it affected their mental well-being. Help and support is available however, and people need not feel isolated.

“These groups provide a forum for those affected by RA to come together, share experiences and learn from one another. They also play a key role in keeping people informed about what resources are available to them” said Ailsa Bosworth, Chief Executive of NRAS, and herself an RA patient.

At the meeting, Paul Mears, the chief executive of Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, will be giving a talk on his vision for the hospital and offering updates on the Integrated Care Programme.
 
The Yeovil NRAS group is part of a network of 40 support groups located across the country, members of which all have rheumatoid arthritis so understand exactly what it is like to have the condition.

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