On the 30th of April, the Welsh Parliament debated the Health and Social Care Committee’s report on supporting individuals with chronic conditions. We welcomed the inclusion and Welsh Government acceptance of several key policy recommendations we advocated for, especially the development of a workforce plan for specialist nurses, like IBD nurses

Thanks to all of you have taken decisive action to share the impact of IBD nurses on your lives with the  Members of the Senedd (MSs) and urging them to attend the debate. Together we reached three quarters of MSs urging them to take action. Our policy team will be following up in the next couple of weeks to ensure IBD stays firmly on the political agenda.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government recently launched a consultation on a new Long-term Conditions Strategy, aimed at enhancing healthcare services and improving quality of life for people with chronic conditions. We  will respond to the consultation to ensure IBD is  considered as part of Scotland's strategic healthcare framework. We will be contacting our campaigners to share their personal experiences and feed into our response.

In England, the UK Government announced a freeze on NHS prescription charges, holding them at £9.90 per item for the first time in three years. While this decision provides some immediate relief, the ongoing cost of prescriptions remains an unfair financial burden for many living in England with lifelong conditions. We will continue to advocate for free prescriptions for people with IBD.

In Northern Ireland, we contributed to the Long-Term Conditions Alliance NI (LTCANI) and NI Neurological Charities Alliance (niNCA) joint response to the Department of Health’s consultation on “Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes.” The submission called for hospital reform in Northern Ireland to fully integrate with wider health and care systems, recognise the voluntary sector’s role, improve data and waiting time transparency and ensure consistent person-centred care for people with long-term conditions.

Join our campaigner network today to add your voice to these issues.