Welsh Assembly event raises the question 'IBD Care: Does Wales Measure Up?'

A panel of speakers gave their perspectives on current standards in care and the key priorities ahead.

Patient representative, Rachel Owen, gave a courageous and eloquent presentation of her IBD journey and the significant challenges that she and others with IBD face.

The issues for both those delivering and requiring IBD healthcare services in Wales were powerfully outlined by all the speakers.

Attendees at the event heard from:

• Ms Jocelyn Davis AM (who hosted the event)
• Ms Rachel Owen, (Patient Representative)
• Dr Barney Hawthorne (Consultant Gastroenterologist and IBD Section Chair, Welsh Association for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy)
• David Barker (Chief Executive, Crohn’s and Colitis UK)
• Helen Ludlow (IBD Nurse Specialist)

Guests, including Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, David Rees AM and Chair of the Petitions Committee, William Powell and members of the South Wales Patient Panel 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 Wales.

A range of issues were highlighted, including the need for more IBD nurses and very long waits for diagnostic tests and surgery.A petition signed by 664 patients was presented by members of the patient panel to the Chair of the Petitions Committee.

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 and Colitis UK sits at the very heart of this work.

This event marks the start of a more concerted effort to raise awareness amongst politicians, policy makers and Health Boards of the challenges to the delivery of quality IBD services in Wales and improve standards in Wales. Crohn’s and Colitis UK is hopeful that the Health and Social Care Committee will undertake a short inquiry into IBD Services.

If you live in Wales and would like to get involved with our work to improve standards, we would love to hear from you at ppr@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk