As of the end of March 2021 29,441 patients were waiting to be admitted for Trauma & Orthopaedic surgery, which is 26.8% higher than at the same time the previous year and 33.6% higher than the average number waiting pre-COVID-leaving people in pain for many years • There are significant staff shortages in the rheumatology workforce in Scotland -all disciplines 3. OVERLAP WITH OTHER GROUPS The CPG will provide the forum in the Scottish Parliament to represent and explore the issues relevant to people living in Scotland with arthritis and all other musculoskeletal conditions There may be overlap from time to time with the work of other groups such as Chronic Pain, Disability, Womens Health, Mental Health, Improving Scotland’s Health and Health Inequalities but it is the intention for the CPG on Arthritis and Musculsosketal conditions to work collaboratively with other groups 4.TOPICS TO BE CONSIDERED The workplan will be driven by the priorities identified by the CPG members.