Inflammatory arthritis is common and costly for individuals, health services and societies. Current guidelines for the management of inflammatory highlight the importance of early administration of disease modifying medication and the titration of therapy against disease activity to try and achieve remission. Reasonable evidence exists to show that early institution of disease modifying drugs reduces the rate of progression of radiological damage in the long term. As such, the early detection of inflammatory arthritis is increasingly important for patients and clinicians alike.

Delay in the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis can occur at multiple points. Patients may not recognise the importance of their symptoms and may not consult promptly with a health care professional. General practitioners may fail to identify the relevance of the presenting symptoms and may not refer patients for specialist assessment, and long secondary care waiting times can prevent a rapid assessment and diagnosis by a specialist.

This presentation will highlight the need for active collaboration between primary and secondary care to improve the detection of inflammatory arthritis. The importance of education for the general public and health care professionals will be emphasized, with local innovation and potential future developments highlighted.

Disclosure of Interest None Declared