Why we went to the Labour Party Conference and what it means for people with Crohn's and Colitis

by Thomas Preece, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Crohn’s & Colitis UK

Last month, I travelled to Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference, joining politicians, charities, healthcare professionals and other organisations to discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the country. 

For Crohn’s & Colitis UK, attending political party conferences is an important part of our work to make sure the voices of people affected by Crohn’s or Colitis are heard by those making decisions about our health services.

But what actually happens at a party conference, and why does it matter for people living with Crohn’s or Colitis?

Making sure Crohn’s and Colitis are part of the conversation

Political party conferences bring together government ministers, MPs, policymakers and organisations from across the country. Alongside the speeches you might see on television, there are hundreds of smaller discussions and events where important policy conversations take place.

These events are an opportunity to build relationships, understand what politicians are prioritising and most importantly make the case for better care and support for people with Crohn’s or Colitis.

By attending conferences, we can bring these issues directly to decision-makers and ensure Crohn’s and Colitis aren't overlooked in wider conversations about the future of the NHS.

And while this conference was hosted by the Labour Party, our work is politically impartial. We engage with politicians from across the political spectrum to build support for improving the lives of everyone affected by Crohn’s or Colitis.

What did we hear about the future of the NHS?

One of the clearest messages from the conference was the Government's continued commitment to its 10 Year Health Plan for England.

Three major changes featured prominently in discussions: 

We know how important timely diagnosis, access to specialist teams and joined-up care are for managing these lifelong conditions. But delivering meaningful improvements will require the right investment, workforce and support for patients.

Another major theme was the development of neighbourhood health services, bringing together GPs, community healthcare professionals and other services to provide more coordinated care.

For people with Crohn’s or Colitis, it will be essential that these changes improve access to specialist expertise rather than creating additional barriers to getting the care they need.

Taking our questions directly to the Health Secretary

One of the highlights of the conference was attending a discussion with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Yvette Cooper, where I had the opportunity to ask a question on behalf of Crohn’s & Colitis UK.

I raised the Government's plans for NHS Online, a new service intended to help patients access specialist healthcare digitally, with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) among the first conditions selected.

This is a significant opportunity to influence how new NHS services are designed for people living with Crohn’s or Colitis. However, while digital technology has the potential to improve access to care, it cannot replace the need for sufficient specialist staff.

I asked the Health Secretary how NHS Online could deliver on its ambitions without additional clinical staff. In her response, she highlighted the importance of making better use of existing NHS capacity and technology to improve efficiency.

It's an important discussion, and one we will continue to be part of as NHS Online develops. We want to ensure that the experiences and needs of people living with Crohn’s or Colitis help shape the service from the outset.

Turning conversations into change

Change doesn't happen simply because we attend a conference or ask a minister a question. But these opportunities matter.

They help us understand where political decisions are heading, build relationships with the people responsible for making them and identify opportunities to influence policies before they are finalised.

They also allow us to work alongside other organisations pushing for improvements to healthcare, recognising that many of the challenges facing people with Crohn’s or Colitis are shared by people living with other long-term conditions.

Our role is to take those experiences into the rooms where decisions are being discussed and keep making the case for better diagnosis, treatment and care.