Diverticular disease
Diverticular disease is when small bulges or pockets (diverticula) develop in the lining of the bowel and cause symptoms. Read more about diverticular 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 diverticular disease
Diverticula are small bulges or pockets that can form in the lining of the large bowel as we get older. Many people have them without any symptoms. When they cause symptoms such as lower tummy pain, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea, and sometimes a little bleeding, it is called diverticular disease. If a pocket becomes inflamed or infected it is called diverticulitis, which can bring more constant and severe tummy pain, a high temperature and feeling unwell. It becomes more common with age and affects the large bowel.
How it is treated
Diverticular disease is usually managed rather than cured. A balanced diet with enough fibre and fluid helps keep the bowel moving, and symptoms can be eased with simple painkillers such as paracetamol, bulk-forming laxatives for constipation, and antispasmodics for cramps. Diverticulitis is treated depending on how severe it is: mild cases are often managed at home, sometimes with antibiotics, while more serious cases need hospital care. Only a minority need hospital treatment to drain an abscess, remove a badly affected section of bowel, or deal with a complication, and this can involve a temporary or permanent stoma.
Living with it
For most people diverticular disease is a long-term but manageable condition. A fibre-rich diet, plenty of fluids, keeping active and a healthy weight all help, and it is best to increase fibre gradually. Flare-ups of diverticulitis can happen from time to time. Guts UK provides information and support for people living with digestive conditions, including diverticular disease.
Sources: NHS: Diverticular disease and diverticulitis, Guts 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.