The UK’s leading charity for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is calling on the Government at Westminster to cut the wait for diagnosis, care and treatment for people with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Some 35,000 people have signed Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s open letter which is being delivered to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, today.
The hand-in comes in the same week as the UK Government launches a major national consultation on the future of the health service.
There are more than half a million people in the UK living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the two main forms of which are Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Many are waiting far too long to be diagnosed, which is leading to much worse patient outcomes and extra pressure on the health service.
Marianne Radcliffe, CEO of Crohn’s & Colitis UK, said:
“We know that people with Crohn’s and Colitis are facing delays at every stage of the process, whether that’s waiting too long for appointments, test referrals, or to start treatment. At Crohn’s & Colitis UK, we’re working hard to make sure Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a big part of the national conversation around fixing the NHS. Listening to the needs of patients is vital. It’s time for things to change, and that change cannot come soon enough for people with Crohn’s and Colitis.”
Bridgette Fraser, a Crohn’s & Colitis UK IBD nurse specialist, said:
“I see dozens of patients every week in my clinic at a busy London hospital. They tell me just how much of an impact Inflammatory Bowel Disease has had on them. People with Crohn’s and Colitis want to be out living their lives, not stuck on waiting lists. Specialist IBD teams need the resources to be able to support them properly.”
Meg Priest, who was told she had Ulcerative Colitis 16 years ago after a long wait for the correct diagnosis, said:
“I was 14 when I first became ill, but it took years to work out what was actually going on with my body and even longer to get me on the right treatment. I’m supporting Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s Cut the Wait campaign because it’s important that Inflammatory Bowel Disease is taken seriously. As I know only too well, you can end up having emergency surgery, which is life-changing. This isn’t just a ‘dodgy tummy’, it affects people’s physical and mental health.”
For more information on Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s open letter to the UK Government, and on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, please contact media@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk
Information for Editors:
Crohn’s and Colitis, the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, are lifelong conditions affecting over half a million people in the UK. The symptoms can be debilitating, painful and therefore life-changing. There is no known cure.
Crohn’s & Colitis UK is the leading charity for people affected by Crohn’s and Colitis. We work with healthcare professionals helps improve diagnosis, treatment and management of the conditions.
We campaign for change which will help improve lives, and our vital research grants drive pioneering work to discover better ways of managing Crohn’s and Colitis, with the hope of one day finding a cure.
We provide easy-to-understand, expert information to people affected by Crohn’s and Colitis when they need it most through our helpline and award-winning resources, and we work hard to bring the community together so they can support each other.
For more information on Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s open letter to the UK Government, and on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, please contact media@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk
