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.