Implementing the National Primary Care Diagnostic Pathway for Lower Gastrointestinal Symptoms

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the importance of implementing the national primary care diagnostic pathway for lower gastrointestinal symptoms, to improve early diagnosis and timely access to treatment for people with gastrointestinal conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis; understands that the pathway provides a practical framework for primary care professionals to assess people's history and symptoms and streamline referrals to hospitals; believes that this improves the accuracy for further investigation and performance against local delivery plan standards; considers that this is a critical time to implement the pathway, as the national statistics suggest that there is now the highest proportion of people waiting over a year for a colonoscopy since January 2023; understands that delays to diagnosis narrow treatment options and can lead to disease progression; further understands that people who experience the longest delays in diagnosis are more likely to have serious bowel complications, which can be life threatening and result in emergency surgery, placing more strain on what it sees as an overstretched health system, and supports the implementation of the pathway across Scotland.