Coeliac disease

That this House recognises that coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune disease affecting 1 in 100 people; expresses concern that almost two-thirds of people with the condition, equating to almost half a million people in the UK, remain undiagnosed, running the risk of long term complications including neurological conditions, osteoporosis and, in rare cases, small bowel lymphoma; notes that the average time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis of 13 years is unacceptable and highlights that it is essential that efforts are made to improve awareness of the condition amongst healthcare professionals and the public; further notes that Coeliac UK’s campaign entitled Coeliac Disease is Different for Everyone aims to draw attention to unexplained symptoms of the condition such as extreme fatigue, persistent mouth ulcers, neurological symptoms, anaemia, subfertility and recurrent miscarriage; encourages those experiencing these symptoms or the more commonly recognised such as sickness, diarrhoea, constipation, and stomach pain to visit www.isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk; and calls on the Government to take note of the APPG on coeliac disease’s upcoming report into diagnosis and commit to improved training and support for healthcare professionals on the condition.