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Asked by:
Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged:
26 November 2025
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Current status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the increase in inflammatory bowel disease cases, in light of reported estimates that 25,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed in 2025 with Crohn's disease and colitis, and that Scotland has the highest prevalence in the UK, with one in 103 people affected.
The Scottish Government welcomes IBD UK’s report Crohn’s and Colitis Care in Scotland: A Vision for Change and values its contribution to improving care for people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
We are committed to ensuring that people living in Scotland with long term conditions like IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and person-centred.
Actions which the Scottish Government is taking include:
- An Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan The Recovery and Renewal Plan - Endoscopy and urology diagnostic: recovery and renewal plan - gov.scot backed by £70 million. The plan focuses on key areas such as: Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development; Infrastructure; and Innovation and Redesign.
- Funding the Modernising Patient Pathways Programme (MPPP) with a specific workstream continuing to promote improvements in IBD care which is being taken forward through the MPPP’s National Gastroenterology Speciality Delivery Group (SDG). They have developed a national IBD pathway for NHS Scotland which was published in January 2025: inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd-pathway.pdf. The SDG is also developing a lower gastrointestinal pathway which will provide primary care guidance about testing and diagnosis for people with IBD in Scotland.
- Developing a new Long Term Conditions Framework to better recognise that many people living with long term conditions share similar needs and may benefit from the same types of support and care, regardless of their condition.
We will continue to work with clinicians, patients, and third sector partners to improve services and outcomes for those living with IBD.