During this third round of audit, the inclusion of inpatient experience and primary care questionnaires provided the opportunity to give an even fuller picture of the provision of IBD care throughout the UK.
- Secondary care and the Royal College of Nursing Crohn’s and colitis specialist interest group should promote and raise awareness of the role of 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 should 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 should 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.
- GPs require educational support in relation to understanding the colon cancer surveillance requirements of patients with IBD.