Arthritis Research UK and Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre join forces to build awareness in Plymouth

Company news

Feb 23, 2015

Leading charity Arthritis Research UK and the Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre have joined forces to help raise awareness of the issues around arthritis, in and around Plymouth.

Arthritis Research UK is the charity leading the fight against arthritis and is the biggest funder of research into the cause, treatment and cure of all forms of arthritis in the UK.

More than one in six people are affected by arthritis, and it is the biggest cause of pain and disability in the UK. In Plymouth the charity estimates that 11,476 people have osteoarthritis of the hip, and 19,217 people have osteoarthritis of the knee.

The charity is working to take the pain away for people living with all forms of the condition, and to help them remain active, doing the things they love. As an organisation it creates the knowledge to change the lives of people with arthritis, from funding research, to educating healthcare professionals and providing information to people with arthritis and their carers.

Arthritis Research UK funds pioneering, high quality research that will develop the best treatment for and prevention of arthritis in the world. It receives no Government funding, but relies on the generosity and commitment of its supporters to continue funding this world class research.

While there are a number of people in and around Plymouth who support Arthritis Research UK, the charity has been limited as to what it can do in the city because it has lacked a focal point for its work.

The team at Care UK’s Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre has agreed that the hospital can be that focal point, providing meeting space, events, support and fundraising opportunities to the charity.

Susie McCallum, regional fundraising manager – South West at Arthritis Research UK, said: “We are delighted to be forging this relationship with Care UK, which will allow us to establish a strong base in Plymouth. As the statistics show, more than 30,000 people in the city suffer from major joint osteoarthritis – this is our chance to engage with some of those people and others to help support research into developing treatments and improving the quality of life for those with this debilitating disease.”

Patricia Warwick, hospital director at Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre, added: “When we heard that Arthritis Research UK needed a focal point for its work in Plymouth, we jumped at the chance to offer our support. With the majority of our surgical procedures involving joint replacement as the result of arthritis, the fit for us is perfect. We are looking forward to helping Susie and her colleagues establish a strong supporter network in the city.”