The local Beds and Mid-Herts branch of Coeliac UK is doing their bit to help raise awareness of coeliac disease and the importance of earlier diagnosis. They invited Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, to join their stall at Sainsbury's Coreys Mill during Coeliac Awareness Week 11-17th May.

Stephen McPartland MP said, "I am pleased to support the local Coeliac UK branch help raise awareness of their new national campaign, Is it Coeliac Disease? Shortening the time to confirm a diagnosis of coeliac disease reduces potential damage to the digestive system and is usually treated by excluding gluten from the diet. The volunteers are giving their time to help make the lives of local people better, showing the strong community spirit we have in Stevenage."

Stevenage resident Vera Wagstaff organised the event and commented on the day, “We were very pleased to meet some new people and provide help and information to enable people to ask the right questions of both themselves and then their GP's in order to establish a diagnosis. Once diagnosed, people can eliminate gluten from their diet and start to feel better soon after. We are very grateful to Stephen McPartland for showing his support to this often debilitating disease.”

Around 1% of the UK population has coeliac disease, but only 24% of those with the condition are medically diagnosed. This means that half a million people in the UK are living with coeliac disease, undiagnosed. Coeliac UK's campaign aims to halve the length of time taken to confirm a diagnosis, which is currently on average, 13 years. Treatment is simply to remove all sources of gluten from the diet, and is usually very successful in restoring energy levels and overall feeling of health. Coeliac UK offers an online assessment at https://www.isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk/

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