To mark Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Week, politicians tabled questions, signed our parliamentary motion and took to social media to express their backing for increased awareness of the conditions. In the Scottish Parliament, the Cross-Party Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) met to discuss the scale and impact of the conditions and the need to maintain a political focus on Crohn's and Colitis.
The Policy Team at Crohn's & Colitis UK wrote to politicians across all the political parties to increase their understanding of Crohn's and Colitis, and to highlight the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on access to health services, access to public toilets and employment and support. We called for:
- All public services, businesses and employers to display our Not Every Disability is Visible signage.
- Governments and the NHS to ensure IBD specialists remain in their roles and people with Crohn's and Colitis are prioritised appropriately for investigations and surgery.
- Governments to provide employment protection, financial support and safe access to food and medicines to enable Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people to stay safe.
Our Westminster parliamentary motion, known as an Early Day Motion, which UK MPs, other than ministers, whips and parliamentary private secretaries, can sign, says:
That this House welcomes Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Week; notes the profound impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on diagnosis, access to specialist advice, investigations and surgery for people with Crohn's and Colitis; appreciates the care provided by healthcare professionals in Inflammatory Bowel Disease services during the pandemic; recognises the role of Crohn's & Colitis UK in providing essential information and support to the 500,000 or the 1 in 133 individuals and their families who are living with the conditions across the UK; welcomes the 2019 IBD Standards; and urges the Government to adequately fund IBD services and prioritise access to endoscopy and surgery for people with Crohn's and Colitis, appropriately alongside other conditions, given the significant implications of delaying critical interventions and procedures on both physical and mental health, relationships and finances.
To see if your MP has signed the motion visit the website.
Find the details for your MP here to ask them to sign the motion.
If your local politician is already supportive, please let us know at policy@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk.
We are very grateful to all the politicians who have offered support for our work and look forward to continuing to work with them to raise awareness and improve care and services for everyone with Crohn's and Colitis.
