Crohn’s and Colitis UK

Television presenter Carrie Grant and Sir Roger Gale join forces with Crohn’s and Colitis UK to empower people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

November 6th 2015

On Wednesday 4 November Crohn’s and Colitis UK were supported by television presenter Carrie Grant and Roger Gale at the parliamentary launch of their new patient resource ‘My Crohn’s and Colitis Care’, a patient guide to the top 10 essentials of a good Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) health service. Currently 1 in 4 IBD services can’t see all urgent referrals within 4 weeks and this guide is designed to empower people with IBD to get the best from their local health service by working in partnership with their healthcare team.

There are at least 300,000 people in the UK living with Crohn’s or Colitis, the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). These chronic conditions can cause ulceration and inflammation in the colon (Ulcerative Colitis) or any part of the digestive system (Crohn’s Disease).

Crohn’s and Colitis UK held a special event in the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 4 November to launch ‘My Crohn’s and Colitis Care’. The event was hosted by MPs Andrew Percy and Martin Vickers who helped to raise awareness of these debilitating conditions and highlighted the need for better healthcare provisions for all of those living with IBD across the UK.

Speaking in support of this cause Sir Roger Said:

“This is an important resource for those of my constituents – and I know of several in North Thanet – who are living with Crohn`s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis and I am glad to be able to help to promote its availability.”Television presenter and vocal coach, Carrie Grant, who has been a member and supporter of Crohn’s and Colitis UK for nearly 20 years since being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease said;“I was very pleased to be able to meet Roger and to discuss issues surrounding IBD. As an IBD patient myself I often have moments of struggle when my IBD gets me down, so I know only too well how important it is to have a great IBD team around me. Others are not so fortunate which is terrible as everyone should be entitled to the best possible healthcare. I was thrilled to be able represent those living with IBD and talk to key decision makers about how we can all work together to make a real difference to others living with IBD.”

David Barker, Chief Executive at Crohn’s and Colitis UK said;

“We are pleased to be able to produce a resource that will help people with IBD get the best support and care from their healthcare team. The impact of these conditions on education, work, social and family life can be devastating. The new resource has been described as the ‘perfect patient companion’ to the UK IBD Standards, the clinical guidelines designed to drive improvements in the quality of healthcare services for people with IBD.”

‘My Crohn’s and Colitis Care’ is available to download from www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/mycare