The Scottish Government has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the bowel conditions Crohn’s and Colitis after a study showed that case numbers are rising. Over 50,000 people in Scotland are living with these long-term conditions - commonly referred to as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - which inflame the gut.
The campaign comes as research from Crohn’s and Colitis UK suggests the rates of IBD are higher than previously thought, with Scotland found to have the highest rates in the UK. Symptoms include a sore stomach, recurring diarrhoea, weight loss and extreme tiredness, which if not treated can lead to complications.
If you are living with either of these conditions, or any of the 25 gastrointestinal health conditions, you could be due extra financial support to help with daily living costs or mobility needs. Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of January 2023, some 13,528 adults in Scotland, England and Wales were receiving support for Crohn’s and Colitis through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
