PATIENTS suffering from a chronic disease are calling for more specialist nurses to help ease their symptoms.

A shortage of nurses means sufferers from bowel problems can wait months, or even years, to be diagnosed with Colitis or Crohn's, which are long-term illnesses causing inflammation of the gut.

The Royal Bolton Hospital has just one specialist inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) nurse - but that is classed as good within the health service nationally, as many hospitals do not have any.

Sufferers are urging people to call a national telephone petition hotline, which is calling for extra nurses in a bid to end the agonising wait for diagnosis and to increase the help on offer, once the condition has been recognised.

There could be as many as 660 people with Crohn's or Colitis in Bolton alone - and just one specialist nurse.

IBD specialist nurse at the Royal Bolton Hospital Cath Pearson explained: "We're lucky in Bolton in that we do have a specialist nurse, but it is ridiculous to have one nurse for so many patients because they have struggled for so long on their own.

"It is a huge emotional burden to have a chronic disease and a nurse can help them cope with the social aspects, work families and for the younger patients how they can carry on with their studies."

She added: "There is a lack of experts in the area because GPs will only have one or two patients with Crohns or Colitis, so people need to have their awareness raised for patient diagnosis."

Journalist Clare Purdy, aged 29, from Ramsbottom was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis almost two years ago. Despite constant GP appointments her condition remained undiagnosed - and untreated - for a year after she began suffering the agonising symptoms.

She said: "I had been ill for months without knowing what was wrong with me, which is really worrying. I couldnt tell anyone and all sorts of sinister things go through your mind. It was getting to the point where I was having to get up a few hours before I had to leave for work,"

Miss Purdy, aged 29, wants to see more specialist nurses to prevent other patients suffering a similar plight. The petition hotline set up by the National Association of Colitis and Crohn's Disease is 0871 7343000.