Specialist appointed at last (From Western Telegraph)

Specialist appointed at last

Arthritis sufferers throughout Pembrokeshire will be delighted with the appointment of the countys first consultant rheumatologist Amanda Coulson, who currently works at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary will take up her post on September 1st.

A survey has indicated that a third of the county - around 40,000 people - suffers from some form of arthritis. The most severe is rheumatoid arthritis which can cripple patients, but the vast majority are affected by osteo-arthritis.

Currently patients have had to go outside the county or see a consultant who travels from Cardiff to the South Pembrokeshire Hospital.

The appointment, made by the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust, is the culmination of a long campaign by the Haverfordwest branch of Arthritis Care.

Said secretary Bernard Coldicott: The rheumatologist will take up her post in Pembrokeshire three years from when it was announced by the manager of the Pembrokeshire Local Health Group at a public meeting.

The campaign has run for 12 years and has been supported by the people of the Pembrokeshire in signing our many petitions, firstly to the Pembrokeshire Health Authority, then Dyfed Health Authority and latterly Dyfed Powys Health Authority.

When the new consultant has been in post for seven months, the area will be controlled by the new Pembrokeshire Health Board which comes into force in April 2003.