A special inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) team is playing a crucial role in providing vital, specialist care for patients with the life-long condition.
The service, based primarily out of the University Hospital of North Tees, supports around 2,000 patients with lifelong IBD conditions, such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis.
The small, close-knit team is comprised of three specialist IBD nurses, two staff nurses and a nurse endoscopist based at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, with Professor Matt Rutter as consultant physician lead for the service.
First point of contact for patients
Unlike short-term illnesses, IBD is a condition patients live with for life. Although it can be diagnosed at any age, patients are often diagnosed in adolescence or early adulthood, meaning many patients build long-lasting relationships with members of the IBD team.
As part of their day-to-day duties, the specialist nurses provide face-to-face clinic appointments, infusions and blood monitoring, a helpline service, support GP referrals and are involved in ongoing research into IBD.
They also work alongside other specialties, holding weekly multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings to discuss current cases and bi-monthly complex MDT meetings with the surgical team to discuss patients who are particularly poorly and may need surgery.
Lyndsey Calvert, specialist nurse and lead for the IBD nursing team, said: “We support patients from the very beginnings of their diagnosis and act as a first point of contact for delivering ongoing care. Our team tailors the level of support to the needs to the patient.
“This isn’t like treating a chest infection – we support patients throughout their lives. Over time, we get to know them incredibly well and they know they can always come to us. We become like an extended member of the family.
“Our IBD team is so special because of the absolute dedication and compassion we have in supporting patients under our care.”
Teamwork at the heart of the service
IBD affects around 1 in every 123 people, with around half a million people across the UK living with the condition. Although there can be a genetic link, most patients diagnosed with IBD have no family history of the condition.
Professor Matt Rutter, consultant physician, said: “Inflammatory bowel disease can be debilitating for those who suffer with it and can still be seen as a taboo subject.
“We’re proud of the team we have built, who are amazing in supporting the physical and emotional burden around having a lifelong condition. We’re passionate about lifting the stigma for patients and sharing our specialist knowledge of the condition with other healthcare professionals.
“Being able to offer a bespoke IBD nurse service has been key to keeping our patients well and out of hospital.”