A MOBILE unit offering private consultations with nurses will be in York throughout July for people with osteoarthritis.

The city is one of only three in the UK to have access to the mobile information service, which will also provide educational leaflets on pain management.

Tony Murray, Central England regional director with Arthritis Care, said: “The Osteoarthritis Pain Information Point is designed to bring pain management advice directly to those who need it the most.

“It’s a relaxed and convenient opportunity for those with osteoarthritis to speak to a nurse, and receive information tailored to their individual needs.

“It’s vital that people living with osteoarthritis understand that although it can’t be cured, they don’t need to battle through daily life with constant pain, because there are a range of pain management plans and techniques that can offer a better quality of life.”

Across the UK, 8.5 million people live with osteoarthritis – a condition which affects the joints, causing pain and stiffness.

A recent survey of 202 people with the complaint revealed the true day-to-day impact of the condition, with eight out of ten saying they experienced osteoarthritis pain most or all of the time.

For people with osteoarthritis, the everyday activities that many of us take for granted, such as walking, gardening and even sleeping, can be fraught with difficulty.

Four out of ten stated their osteoarthritis pain affected their ability to walk a large amount. Six out of ten stated that it affected their ability to sleep a “fair amount” or a “large amount’ Dr Chris Steele said: “Some patients with osteoarthritis feel reluctant to visit their GP as they think there are no other options to help them control their osteoarthritis pain. Or they simply don’t want to make a fuss.

“However, if they’re in pain despite taking medication, or find their treatment difficult to deal with, it may be time to visit their GP to discuss a new pain management plan.

“By visiting the Osteoarthritis Pain Information Point, people with osteoarthritis will have the chance to get advice from a nurse, who can recommend whether or not an appointment with a GP would be beneficial and, if so, how to get the most out of it.”

The mobile unit will be at Wyevale Garden Centre from Tuesday, July 12, to Sunday, July 17, from 9am to 6pm (Sunday, 10.30am to 4.30pm) It will then be in the Coppergate Shopping Centre from Monday, July 18, to Saturday July 23, from 9am to 5.30pm.