Harrogate MP Tom Gordon has spoken about living with ulcerative colitis after being hospitalised following a recent flare-up of the condition.
The Lib Dem MP said the condition has taken “a real toll” on his life, explaining that it took more than a decade to receive a diagnosis and that he has often struggled to access the right inflammatory bowel disease care.
He said he plans to speak more openly about the condition in future.
In a post on social media, Tom said:
"Until now it’s mostly been manageable, and I’ve been lucky not to end up in hospital. But this recent flare up, triggered by a gut infection, really knocked me for six. I’ve been out of action for over a week, a reminder of how unpredictable living with a chronic condition can be.
"I’ve mentioned before that I live with UC, but not always what that actually means day to day. I’ll spare you the graphic detail, but there are days when I have to slow right down or even stop, even though I’m very much the sort of person who wants to keep going and be everywhere at once. I find that really tough."
He added:
"I’m incredibly grateful to the healthcare staff who’ve looked after me with such care and kindness during this hospital stay. Our NHS isn’t perfect, but we’re incredibly lucky to have it."
The MP also thanked his office team for keeping work going while he was forced to take a short step back.
He said he is now on the mend and looking forward to getting fully back up to speed.
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