Sir,

Once again my we thank the people of Pembrokeshire for supporting Arthritis Care Week by generously donating at our Flag Day, the Hospital, Vincent Davies Store and finally our coffee morning the grand sum of £965.69. These donations will help those with arthritis to live more independently by the provision of aids and equipment. Over the week, with our displays, many more people have joined the local branch so that they can take part in the hydrotherapy sessions and join in the other branch activities.

Our campagn for a consultant rheumatologist came to fruition on Tuesday, April 30, when the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust appointed a Dr. Amanda Coulson, presently at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, to this post. She will take up her work in Pembrokeshire on September 1. This will be three years from when it was announced by the manager of the Pembs. Local Health Group at a public meeting in Narberth in September 1999.

At that time, our president, Tom Parry, gave the news to the press, but it was quashed by the LHG. The campaign has run for 12 years and has been supported by the people of Pembrokeshire in signing our many petitions, firstly to the Pembrokeshire Health Authority, then Dyfed Health Authority and latterly Dyfed Powys Health Authority.

When the new consultant has been in post for seven months, she will then be working for our local NHS Trust, but the whole area will be controlled by the Pembrokeshire Health Board coming into force in April 2003. We will have travelled full circle through the health authorities in our endeavours to obtain the services of Pembrokeshire's very first consultant rheumatologist.

Again we must thank the people of Pembrokeshire for supporting our longstanding campaign and all the local members of Arthritis Care for the work they have achieved in bringing about this new post to help all those with any of 200 types of arthritis. Dr. Coulson has a formidable task ahead.

Bernard Caldicott,

Secretary,

Springfield,

Nolton Road,

Simpson Cross.