Coeliac disease
Coeliac disease is a condition where the immune system reacts to gluten and damages the lining of the gut. Read more about coeliac disease →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the gastroenterology wait, updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
gastroenterology waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust | Sunderland | 4 weeks |
| Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust | Gateshead | 5 weeks |
| Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Cambridge | 6 weeks |
| East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | Blackburn with Darwen | 6 weeks |
| Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | Cornwall | 6 weeks |
| Whittington Health NHS Trust | Islington | 6 weeks |
| South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Middlesbrough | 6 weeks |
| Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | Wakefield | 7 weeks |
About coeliac disease
Coeliac disease is a lifelong autoimmune condition where eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, makes the immune system attack the lining of the small bowel. Over time this damages the lining and stops the body absorbing nutrients properly. Symptoms vary a lot: some people have diarrhoea, tummy pain, bloating, wind or constipation, while others feel tired, lose weight without meaning to, or develop an itchy rash, and some have few gut symptoms at all. In children it can slow growth. It affects at least 1 in 100 people. It is diagnosed with a blood test and usually a biopsy of the small bowel, and it is important to keep eating gluten until the tests are done, or the results can come back falsely normal.
How it is treated
There is no medicine and no cure. The treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet, which lets the bowel lining heal and settles the symptoms. This means avoiding wheat, barley and rye, and watching for hidden gluten and cross-contamination in everyday foods. You are usually referred to a dietitian to help you eat well without gaps in your nutrition, and some people need vitamin or mineral supplements for a while to put right deficiencies such as iron, calcium or vitamin D.
Living with it
Coeliac disease is managed for life through diet rather than cured, and most people feel much better once the gut heals. You will usually have a review after diagnosis and then regular check-ups, often once a year, that look at things like your weight, symptoms and blood levels. Because long-term coeliac disease can affect the bones, your team may check your bone health. Living gluten-free gets easier with practice: learning to read labels, finding safe brands, and planning for eating out and travel. Gluten-free foods on prescription are available in some areas only. Coeliac UK provides food information, a helpline and a support community.
Sources: NHS: Coeliac disease, Coeliac UK. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.