Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of classifying Inflammatory Bowel Disease as a distinct category for analysis by NHS Hospital Episode Statistics.

Further to the answer of 15 June in response to Question 6991, we continue to assess how best to support people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and we will keep the issues and proposals raised by the Hon Member under review to that end.

Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England. People with IBD may be eligible for exemption from prescription charges depending on their age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a separate qualifying medical condition, and whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension. They may also be eligible for the NHS Low Income Scheme or could benefit from a prescription prepayment certificate to cap costs.