2 minute read
How we’re influencing national pathways
from Connect Magazine
In Northern Ireland, we have secured the backing of the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Lourda Geoghegan.
In Scotland, we have support from Jessica Henderson, the National Associate Director at the Centre for Sustainable Delivery.
In England, we worked to influence the NHS England bowel cancer pathway so that people with Crohn’s and Colitis are appropriately prioritised for endoscopy.
In Wales, we have worked with the Health and Social Care Committee to consider whether the investment in endoscopy services has improved outcomes for people with suspected Crohn’s and Colitis.
Our Chair, Dr Jackie Craissati, explained how recent research had revealed that 6% of people would avoid going to see their GP if they saw blood in their poo, and one in six would delay talking to their GP because they felt embarrassed discussing their toilet habits.
Sacha Dhawan shared his experiences of being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2006 after seeing a huge amount of blood in his poo. And Dr Robert Logan, NHS England National Clinical Adviser on Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, spoke about the toll of Crohn’s and Colitis.
“It’s hidden, it’s incurable and it’s lifelong,” he said.
SCOTLAND LAUNCH
Making our call heard
“With Crohn’s and Colitis, we need to create more awareness and get people talking about it more. For years, I sat in silence. I didn’t speak to any friends or family until I stumbled across Crohn’s & Colitis UK. Since I’ve spoken about it, I feel like I’ve finally connected to a huge part of me.”
SACHA DHAWAN, AT OUR LONDON LAUNCH
Raising Awareness In Wales
From day one, our campaign received support from the Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan MS. Speaking about the work being done in Wales to ease pressure on endoscopy services and transform the lives of people living with Crohn’s and Colitis, she said: “Bowel conditions are notoriously difficult to diagnose, which is why we are committed to improving pathways and increasing diagnostic capacity through our programme for transforming care. I hope that working with Crohn’s & Colitis UK to ensure patient voices are heard means we can respond to the needs of the people who are going through each stage of their journey.”
Dr Barney Hawthorne, National Clinical Lead for IBD in Wales, said: “This campaign is absolutely fantastic. It helps to get over that British reticence about talking about our bowels. The symptom checker highlights key symptoms and empowers people to see a doctor. If we can diagnose people early, we can transform their lives.”
Msps Back Our Campaign
Our Scotland launch was backed by Public Health Minister, Maree Todd. She said: “I absolutely love the campaign’s catchphrase. Raising awareness is crucial and I really believe this campaign will help to develop a deeper understanding of these conditions. It will provide tools to empower people to have open conversations with their GPs and ensure they can access appropriate treatment and support.”
The Scottish government has launched a campaign to raise awareness of Crohn’s and Colitis and encourage people with symptoms to get checked. This came as a result of our engagement with Humza Yousaf, now First Minister. It’s the first government-funded awareness campaign on Crohn’s and Colitis, and your membership has helped make it a success.
Next Steps
Our work on early diagnosis has just begun. We need GPs to know more about Crohn’s and Colitis so that when people present with potential symptoms, they get access to the relevant tests and referred to hospital where appropriate.
We are working with organisations that provide training and support to GPs and other community healthcare professionals, including the Royal College of GPs, to help them spot the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s and Colitis and ensure their patients get an early diagnosis.
We have also launched a range of resources, including podcasts, webinars, e-learning modules and toolkits. Ask your GP about them and direct them to: crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/HCP
Steven Sharp used our digital toolkit to raise awareness with his MP, and is now due to meet with the Prime Minister.
You can find our toolkit at: crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/ raise-awareness-with-your-politician
