Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to meet the psychological needs of those with (a) inflammatory bowel disease and (b) other long-term health conditions.

The two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published, Crohn’s Disease Management in Adults, Children and Young People, in October 2012, and, Ulcerative Colitis Management in Adults, Children and Young People, in June 2013, set out best practice in the management of these conditions.

Both sets of guidance state that people with IBD should be offered a range of support which could include access to psychological and dietetic support, if appropriate. The ulcerative colitis guideline highlights psychological support as being particularly important if a patient is considering surgery for their disease, and post-operatively, when surgery has taken place. With regard to access to IBD nurse specialists, the Ulcerative Colitis guideline sets out that both patients who are considering surgery and who have had surgery should have receive information about their treatment from a specialist.

The NICE Quality Standard for IBD comprises the four quality improvement statements as follows; specialist assessment, multidisciplinary team support, surgery and monitoring drug treatment. Quality standards are designed to drive measurable quality improvements within a particular area of health or care using the best available evidence. NHS England expects local commissioners and providers to consider the latest evidence and guidance, including from NICE, when planning services for patients with all conditions, including IBD. Whilst providers and commissioners must have regard to the Quality Standards in planning and delivering services, the quality standards do not provide a comprehensive service specification and are not mandatory.

Finally, we want all patients with long-term conditions to feel supported to maintain good physical and mental health which meet their social and psychological needs. Good care planning for patients with long-term conditions as set out by NHS England in the House of Care model, should take into consideration all aspects of a patient’s needs, including psychological needs.