An MS has urges constituents in North Wales to “get talking” about Crohn’s and Colitis.
Llyr Gruffydd, who represents the region in the Senedd, has said those with the conditions don’t need to “suffer in silence”.
The Plaid Cymru politician spoke on the issue following meeting with members of the Crohn’s & Colitis UK team Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week.
He urged anyone who has the conditions to make use of Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s Talking Toolkit, which has been created to help people find the right words to explain what they are going through.
Over 26,000 people in Wales live with Crohn’s and Colitis. These are chronic diseases where the immune system attacks the gut that do not have a cure and often affect young adults during what should be the most productive years of their lives.
Treating each patient with Crohn’s and Colitis now costs the NHS as much as treating those with cancer or heart conditions.
Llyr Gruffydd MS said: “Talking about Crohn’s or Colitis can be hard for people with these conditions.
“Some might be feeling embarrassed or confused, and not quite sure how to navigate living with, and talking about the impact on their daily life.
“Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s Talking Toolkit can help them find the right words to share what they’re going through and the impact on their daily lives.
“People don’t need to suffer in silence and I would urge anyone who has these conditions to make use of this resource. Talking about it is often the first step towards getting better care and support.
“These kinds of conditions are much more common than many people think. There are over 26,000 people in Wales who live with Crohn’s and Colitis, many of whom live in North Wales.
“I would like to thank with members of the Crohn’s & Colitis UK team for coming to the Senedd to talk about the conditions, and discuss how we can work together for better diagnosis, better care and better lives.”
For more information: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/talk
