Severe bowel disease

Current definition

December 2023

Severe bowel disease

A definite diagnosis by a consultant gastroenterologist of one of the following:

• Crohn’s disease;
• diverticulitis;
• intestinal ischaemia; or
• ulcerative colitis,

resulting in:

• the undergoing of either:
  • surgical intestinal resection to remove part of the small intestine or bowel on at least two separate occasions; or
  • a subtotal colectomy, total colectomy, or proctocolectomy; or
• inclusion on the NHS waiting list for:
  • a second or subsequent intestinal resection to remove part of the small intestine or bowel, or
  • a subtotal or total colectomy, or proctocolectomy

For the above definition, the following are not covered:

• local excision and polypectomy