GPs want more information and education about Crohn’s and colitis

The survey was commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) and carried out on behalf of the UK IBD Audit Steering Group by the RCP’s Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit (CEEU). GPs returned 1675 completed questionnaires out of a maximum of 6640 related admissions.

GPs are likely to see only a handful of new patients with IBD each year, compared to many patients with more common conditions, and therefore it is crucial for them to have prompt access to specialist advice.

The survey showed that GPs wanted to ensure their patients with IBD who suffered a relapse of symptoms are seen at the hospital clinic within 7 days of contact; 59% have not been able to access such speedy review.

The survey also showed that encouragingly, the majority of patients with IBD (76%) are under the care of a hospital for the long term follow up of their condition.

Recommendations

The report makes several recommendations aimed at improving education, information and communication about IBD services between GPs and hospital services:

• Secondary care and the Royal College of Nursing Crohn’s and Colitis Specialist Interest Group should promote and raise awareness of the role IBD specialist nurses and the support that they can offer to primary care in making treatment choices and preventing admission to hospital.
• Hospitals should always provide GPs with a copy of a patient’s most up to date care management plan. This plan should clearly indicate named individuals who can be contacted for advice in the event of a relapse, including any details of an IBD nurse specialist where one is in post.
• The Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology could coordinate educational events with primary and secondary care input to promote the latest knowledge in relation to the treatment of IBD.
• The Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology could encourage general practice research into the number of patients who have been diagnosed with IBD but who are not currently being seen either in primary or secondary care.
• An understanding of the colon cancer surveillance requirements should be en educational objective of general practitioners.

Dr Ian Arnott, consultant gastroenterologist, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh & clinical director for the UK IBD Audit, said:

This timely report shows for the first time significant issues in communication between primary and secondary care services for patient with IBD. The report also highlights a number of educational issues surrounding the long term follow up of patient with IBD. This report serves as a basis for commissioners and their secondary care colleagues to work together to establish seamless pathways in the patient journey ensuring the best quality management of IBD patients.

Dr John O’Malley, secretary of the Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology, said:

This audit highlights the need for better working together between primary and secondary care with better recognition and treatment of flare ups in IBD needed on the primary care side and better provision of ‘fast track’ access to hospital care. It also shows that a greater awareness of the potentially valuable role that IBD nurses could play in primary care is needed.

Dr Kevin Stewart, clinical director of the RCP’s Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit (CEEU), said:

There have been many welcomed improvements in the care of IBD patients but we clearly have to now focus on improving coordination of services between GPs and the hospital. We know that GPs are incredibly busy and individual doctors may not see many IBD patients, so we have to ensure that when patients need specialist care there are easy ways for GPs to access this.

For further information, please contact Linda Cuthbertson, head of PR, on +44 (0)203 075 1254 / 0774 877 7919, or email Linda.Cuthbertson@rcplondon.ac.uk