By Dr Irwin Lim, Rheumatologist
Michael Slater was a dashing international cricketer during the 1990s, an opening batsman we rushed to watch. He is now a TV presenter. He is high profile, charismatic and public.
This may sound mean but it’s good when high profile celebrities get a disease they are willing to talk about.
It gets the message on air. It can improve the awareness of disease. It may lead to increased interest, improved research funding or other support and actually improve the lives of other sufferers.
Michael Slater has ankylosing spondylitis. Click the link to watch the TV piece on this from the national broadcaster, Nine.
Yours truly had a small part.
We need more media coverage of the rheumatic diseases. Our profile is poor and our patients suffer due to this.
Dr Irwin Lim is a rheumatologist and a director of BJC Health. You should follow him on twitter here. Arthritis requires an integrated approach. We call this, Connected Care. Contact us.