To ask the Minister of Health when a departmental lead on inflammatory bowel disease will be appointed.

Crohns and Colitis are forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) which is managed mostly under the speciality of Gastroenterology but patients may also be referred from General Medicine or General Surgery. Regional commissioning through the Department of Health serves as the means of ensuring a consistent approach to prioritisation and delivery across Trusts and primary care, in line with relevant clinical standards and population needs.

There is already a close network across Primary Care, Voluntary groups, HSC Trusts and specialities to manage the care of patients. Regional commissioning through the Department of Health serves as the means of ensuring a consistent approach to prioritisation and delivery across all Trusts and primary care, in line with relevant clinical standards and population needs.

Diagnosis is supported by regionally agreed primary care pathways. Once diagnosed, patients are cared for by specialists including clinicians and IBD nurses in each Trust area. A number of Trusts have appointed pharmacy support for IBD patients who attend in their Emergency Department. There is also a regional IBD interest group which shares good practice and learning across the region.

The Department of Health in recent years has increased funding on an annual basis to ensure that all IBD patients, assessed as benefiting from NICE approved biologic technologies, receive treatment regardless of where they live. Patients across NI are able access these medicines within a waiting time of 13 weeks.