To ask the Minister of Health to detail any guidance his Department has issued to health practitioners across Health and Social Care Trusts on the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

My Department has not issued specific guidance to health practitioners across Health and Social Care Trusts on the diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

However, the following NICE Technology Appraisals (TAs) have been endorsed by the Department for use in Northern Ireland which support the management of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, including:

TA238 – Tocilizumab for the treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis

TA373 – Abatacept, adalimumab, etanercept and tocilizumab for treating juvenile idiopathic arthritis (review of TA35)

TA685 – Anakinra for treating Still’s disease

TA735 – Tofacitinib for treating juvenile idiopathic arthritis

In April 2017, the Department endorsed NICE guidelines on the diagnosis and management of spondyloarthritis in over 16s (NG65) for implementation in NI – this guideline also includes people who are 16 years or older with axial or peripheral symptoms who have previously been diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

My Department remains committed to working with Health and Social Care Trusts to ensure that individuals with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis receive timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment and high-quality care.