Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of patients with (a) chronic and (b) benign bowel conditions waiting for long periods for (i) surgery and (ii) treatment.

The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’, published in February 2022, stated the ambition to reduce long waiting times for planned National Health Service treatments, including for patients with chronic and benign bowel conditions. In July 2022, two-year waits for elective treatments were virtually eliminated and the Department is working with NHS England on further ambitions in the plan.

From April 2023, providers will be asked to establish perioperative care co-ordination teams to create capacity for those who require more complex care in a higher acuity setting. The NHS is also providing information and support to patients while they await treatment through the My Planned Care platform, including those with chronic or benign bowel conditions.