13 April 2026
Across the UK, rheumatology services are under pressure. And without consistent national data, it鈥檚 difficult to fully understand where those pressures exist, or how to fix them.
The is designed to change that.
What is the organisational audit?
Running annually each spring, the organisational audit is a short online questionnaire completed by services . It sits alongside the National Early Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases Audit (NEIAA) with a particular focus on how services are structured and delivered.
It captures key information including:
- Whole-time equivalent (WTE) consultants, specialist nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists
- Access to therapies such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology
- Early arthritis referral pathways
- Number of new patient clinic slots per week
- Access to diagnostic services
On their own, these data points are simple. At scale, they become one of the most powerful tools we have to understand rheumatology care across the UK.
Why this data matters now
This data feeds directly into the NEIAA State of the Nation report, helping to build a clear, evidence-based picture of:
- Workforce capacity
- Service provision
- Variation in access to care
That evidence underpins BSR鈥檚 policy and advocacy work, strengthening the case for better resourcing and more sustainable services.
Put simply, without this data, it is far harder to make the case for change.
From data to real-world improvement
We have already seen how audit data can drive meaningful change at a local level.
Services contributing to national audits have been able to identify delays, benchmark against others, and make targeted improvements. In some cases, this has led to faster assessments, earlier treatment, and improved patient outcomes within a year.
In another example, identifying a lack of access to key diagnostics helped support a business case for service improvement, directly addressing delays in diagnosis.
These are not theoretical benefits. They are practical changes driven by having the right data in the first place.
A small ask with a significant impact
The organisational audit has been designed to be quick and straightforward to complete, while still capturing the information that matters most.
A small amount of time now contributes to:
- A stronger national evidence base
- Better benchmarking between services
- More effective advocacy for the specialty
- Improved care for patients
Deadline approaching: have you completed yours?
The audit is now open and will close in mid-May.
If your service has not yet submitted a response, now is the time. Missing data means missing insight, and ultimately, missed opportunities to improve care.
By contributing data from your NHS Trust or Local Health Board, you are helping to build a clearer, more accurate picture of rheumatology services across the UK.
That picture helps drive change.