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Motion · S6M-18149 · 26 Jun 2025

Improving Access to Endoscopy for People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Lodged by Pauline McNeill (Scottish Labour) Standard Motion 35 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament recognises reports that diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and colitis is taking years, when, it believes, it should take weeks; understands that people who experience the longest delays in diagnosis are four times more likely to have serious bowel complications and twice as likely to have surgery; further understands that delays to treatment narrow treatment options and can lead to disease progression, resulting in avoidable emergency admissions that place unnecessary pressure on what it sees as already overstretched A&E departments; understands that timely access to endoscopy is vital to diagnose or rule out Crohn’s and colitis as soon as possible; recognises that Scottish Government standards state that patients should receive key diagnostic tests, including upper endoscopy, lower endoscopy and colonoscopy, within six weeks; understands that data from Public Health Scotland shows that, in January 2025, almost 16% of patients waited over a year for a colonoscopy, which is the greatest proportion since August 2022; believes that delays are being driven by increasing demand, staff shortages, and the prioritisation of cancer referrals, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to introduce an emergency clinical prioritisation protocol for endoscopy services, based on clinical need, disease progression, quality of life impact, and risk of adverse outcomes.

Supporters (35)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.