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Newry Town Hall was lit up blue yesterday and will be again this evening, 13 October, as part of a campaign to raise awareness of conditions affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
Organised by the charity Versus Arthritis the gesture aims to mark World Arthritis Day, 12 October, with a striking visual display aimed at highlighting conditions that affect nearly three in ten adults in the region.
The UK's largest arthritis charity has partnered with many local councils throughout the north to illuminate prominent landmarks, helping to shine a spotlight on musculoskeletal conditions that organisers say remain far too often ignored and misunderstood by the wider public.
The scale of the issue is significant. Currently, around 525,000 people here, approximately 29% of the adult population, are living with musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis.
Years of Pain and Waiting
Siobhan Edgar, 63, from County Armagh, knows the reality of living with these conditions all too well. Having lived with arthritis for 36 years, she recently underwent knee replacement surgery in 2024 after waiting more than seven years for the operation. Now facing the prospect of replacing her other knee, she finds herself back at square one.
"I have lived with arthritis for 36 years now and underwent knee replacement surgery in 2024 after waiting for over seven years for the operation. Now I need my other knee replaced and with the waiting times like they are, I can't help but feel back where I started," she said.
"I was referred to orthopaedics in August for total knee replacement surgery and was told last month that the waiting list, just to see the surgeon, is four and a half years. I won't be placed on the surgery waiting list until after I have been seen by the surgeon."
The impact on her daily life has been profound. "Although being on the waiting list for a long time isn't something that is new to me after getting my first knee replaced, I am now very aware of the impact it will have on my life," Siobhan explained.
"Living with pain that affects every aspect of your life is incredibly tough. I can't help but feel every time I try and do something, it feels like I'm going 2 steps forward and then one step back."
A Growing Crisis
Siobhan's experience reflects a wider crisis in orthopaedic care across Northern Ireland. Nearly 24,000 people are currently waiting to be admitted for orthopaedic surgery in the region, with 64% having waited more than a year. In some areas, the statistics reveal an even more alarming picture – one in twenty patients are waiting around six years for potentially life-transforming procedures such as hip or knee replacements.
Sara Graham, Head of Northern Ireland at Versus Arthritis, emphasised the importance of raising awareness about these challenges.
"The impact that arthritis has on the community is huge and is often overlooked and misunderstood. It can affect people of all ages and can significantly affect their quality of life, something that Siobhan knows all too well," she said.
"Now more than ever it is so important we continue to highlight the issues people who live with arthritis in Northern Ireland face every day."
A Call for Understanding
Arthritis affects 10 million people across the UK. Many experience severe pain, fatigue and reduced mobility on a daily basis, impacting their ability to work, care for their families and live independently.
The charity hopes that the illumination of buildings throughout the region will inspire people living with arthritis to share their stories and experiences, whilst reassuring them that support is available and they are not alone in their struggles.
Beyond raising awareness and investing in research, Versus Arthritis offers practical support through a range of services, including information about the conditions, self-management advice, exercise programmes and online communities.
For more information about the support available from the charity, visit www.versusarthritis.org/in-your-area.
