Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed. Read more about ulcerative colitis →
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 ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the large bowel (colon) and the back passage (rectum) become inflamed. It is one of the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and the inflammation causes tiny ulcers on the lining of the bowel. Common symptoms are diarrhoea that may contain blood, mucus or pus, a frequent or urgent need to poo (including at night), tummy pain often on the lower left, tiredness and weight loss. Like Crohn's, it tends to come and go, with flare-ups and quieter periods called remission, and it can sometimes cause joint, skin or eye problems too.
How it is treated
There is no cure, but treatment controls the inflammation and helps keep you in remission. Most people start with aminosalicylates such as mesalazine; steroids are used for a limited time to settle a flare-up, and longer-term options include immunosuppressants and biological or other targeted medicines for disease that is harder to control. If medicines are not keeping the condition in check, or the bowel is badly affected, a specialist may recommend removing the colon in hospital (a colectomy), with either a stoma or an internal pouch made from the small bowel. Because ulcerative colitis affects only the colon, removing it can stop the disease.
Living with it
Ulcerative colitis is managed over the long term rather than cured, and many people have long spells of remission. You will have regular reviews with a specialist team, with blood tests and other checks to monitor the inflammation and your medicines. People with long-standing, extensive colitis have a higher risk of bowel cancer over time, so the NHS offers regular surveillance colonoscopies to catch any changes early. It helps to know your own early flare signs, keep appointments and prescriptions up to date, and ask your team about diet, work and pregnancy. Crohn's & Colitis UK offers information and a support community for people living with the condition.
Sources: NHS: Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's & Colitis 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.