Scottish Government Minister welcomes Crohn's & Colitis UK's work in Scotland

Speaking at the event, the Minister emphasised the potentially serious impact of IBD, welcomed the work of the Steering Group, and highlighted the importance of the UK IBD Standards (developed by Crohn’s & Colitis UK and others) as a benchmark for good quality IBD care.

Using funds provided by The Quality Unit (Clinical Priorities Team), the Steering Group has a remit for designing a programme for improving the quality of clinical care and implementing new approaches to the management of IBD as a long-term condition.

Comprised of clinicians, people with the condition and other specialists, the Steering Group is collaborating on the co-design of a pan-Scotland approach to the diagnosis, management and care of IBD based on evidence drawn from two diverse Health Boards – Highlands and Islands and Greater Glasgow.

Attendees at the event heard from:

• Ms Annabelle Ewing MSP (the reception’s host)
• Dr Charlie Lees (Consultant Gastroenterologist on the Scottish IBD Steering Group)
• Ms Nancy Greig (Scottish IBD Steering Group Patient Representative) - who delivered an inspiring speech from a patient perspective
• David Barker (Chief Executive, Crohn’s & Colitis UK)

Guests, including Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Neil Findlay MSP and Catherine McEwan Foundation Founder Derek McEwan also had an opportunity to ask questions of our panel of IBD experts, in a lively discussion on how to improve standards of care for everyone with IBD in Scotland.

Events like this bring together so many key players and organisations who are all working tirelessly to drive up standards of care for patients with IBD and we are proud that Crohn’s & Colitis UK sits at the very heart of this work.