Welcome to the IBD service which you may need to access after a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease or microscopic colitis.
The IBD service is part of the Gastroenterology Department which specialises in intestinal disorders. The IBD team includes Consultant Gastroenterologists, Colorectal Surgeons, IBD Nurse Specialists, Dietitians, Endoscopists, Pharmacists, Radiologists and the Day Treatment Unit staff.
You will be assigned to a Consultant Gastroenterologist was responsible for making decisions with you, about your care and other appropriate treatment options. You may also be referred to other colleagues in the team for treatment, advice and support.
For Gastroenterological Consultant appointment queries, please call the gastroenterological secretaries on 01582 497478 or 01582 497508.
(you will be advised if this is the case).
Colorectal Surgeons
Patients with IBD sometimes require surgical treatment. We have a number of IBD surgeons who work alongside with the team who can make joint decisions with you if surgery is required.
The IBD Nurse Specialists (CNS)
The nurse service includes providing advice during a flare up of your disease, assessing and prescribing treatment, monitoring medications and blood results, and providing advice to inpatients.
Contact with IBD Nurses
- The advice line: 01582 718368
- Telephone or face to face clinics (these can be requested by calling the gastroenterological secretaries on 01582 497478/497508)
- Via email service for routine or non-urgent queries: IBD@ldh.nhs.uk or via the PKB website
The Advice Line (Answer Machine)
- 01582 718368
- Open Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm
- Please note this is not an emergency line, it is an answer machine service
Calls are picked up daily. You will need to leave your name, contact number, date of birth or hospital number with a brief message and your call will be returned. Please state clearly if you are in a flare. Calls are triaged and patients who are experiencing flares, are called first.
If your situation is an emergency then call 111, go to A&E or your urgent GP.
Please do not leave more than one message as the nurses will endeavour to return your call as soon as possible. If you have multiple or complex issues we may organize a clinic appointment or admission.
We will try to contact you up to three times and leave a message.
Please contact us. We are here to help! In return, we appreciate polite and receptive communication.
Main IBD Clinics
Our clinics are run by specialist nurses. They are usually telephone clinics as the majority of patients would prefer remote consultations. If you would prefer a face to face appointment, kindly contact the Gastroenterology Secretaries on 01582 497478 and request a face to face appointment.
Hospital Pharmacy Department
We work closely with our Colleagues in Pharmacy such as the Pharmacy Homecare Team, Pharmacy production and High Cost Drug Pharmacist. The Pharmacy teams are responsible for screening biologics prescriptions, ordering biologic drugs ready for administration in our Day Treatment Unit and also coordinating homecare service for our patients on biologics treatment at home.
Dietician
We work with Gastroenterology Dieticians who give advice on special diets and nutrition upon referral from the Gastroenterologist or IBD Nurse. If you would like to be referred to the Dietician, please discuss this with us.
Research Nurse
From time to time we may offer you the chance to take part in clinical research, including trials of new treatments for IBD. You may see our Research Nurse in Clinic or elsewhere in the unit.
Gastroenterology Ward Staff
Patients with IBD sometimes need to be admitted to hospital for intensive treatment, close monitoring or further investigations or possibly for surgery. We try and admit our patients onto the Gastroenterology Ward (Ward 21), or to an appropriate Surgical Ward. The Ward Manager and the Nursing staff work closely with Gastroenterologists, Junior Doctors, Dieticians, Pharmacist and IBD Nurses.
Day Treatment Unit
- Direct Number 01582 718106
If you need to come in for a day treatment such as a medication infusion, you will need to come to Day Treatment Unit. It is located in the main hospital building first floor in between Ultrasound and X-Ray department.
Capsule Endoscopy Service
As part of the investigation to diagnose or assess your IBD, or other gastroenterological condition, a Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy may be requested. This is a non-invasive test that is performed by one of our IBD Nurse in Day Treatment Unit.
Other Hospital Support
IBD can become complex, so we may refer you to other specialties such as Rheumatology (joints), Ophthalmology (eyes) or Dermatology (skin).
Biologics Service
We have over 400 patients on biological therapy of different class. Some patients are attending Day Treatment Unit for their infusion and majority of our patients continue their treatment at home through Homecare. It is essential that all our patients on biological therapy will have their blood test at least every 8 weeks and send stool sample for stool test every 8-12 weeks. We review results regularly before we can renew biological treatment prescriptions.
New patient on biological therapy of any class will undergo clinical screening and medication counselling before starting treatment.
Immunosuppression Service
We have over 500 patients on immunosuppression drugs such as Azathioprine, 6-Mercaptopurine and Methotrexate. Patients on this treatment are asked to have blood test every 12 weeks (Azathioprine and 6-Mercaptopurine) and every 8 weeks (Methotrexate). Abnormal blood results are sent to us for review and we will contact patients if a clinical intervention is required.
New patient on immunosuppressant medications will need to undergo clinical screening and medication counselling before starting treatment.
New Patients
We receive patient referrals from the endoscopy department following endoscopic procedures, Wards, GP referrals and others. Sources. Our aim is to call or see patients and provide initial information about IBD, assess if initial treatment is required, provide information pack and arrange an appointment with Gastroenterologist.
Further Information and advice
- Crohn’s and Colitis UK (CCUK), a national charity
- The L&D IBD Service
- IDB Passport, for travel
- The British Society of Gastroenterology
- The NHS