Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Welcome to the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) team at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI). We provide a comprehensive range of general and specialist IBD clinical services to the population of Bradford and surrounding area for patients with a diagnosis of IBD. This involves inpatient hospital care and outpatient clinics at BRI delivered by consultants and specialist nurses.

The IBD team comprises of members from different specialist backgrounds who work together to deliver the best possible care for our patients.

All of the doctors within the team have a special interest in IBD. They will discuss your condition with you and decide along with you what would be the most appropriate way to investigate and treat your IBD.

Consultant gastroenterologist

You will be allocated a named consultant gastroenterologist who will have overall responsibility for your IBD care and will keep you up-to-date with your progress, but you will not necessarily see them at each appointment.

The IBD nurse specialists are senior nurses with specialist training in IBD. They provide a key role in assessing and monitoring patients on a range of drug therapies as well as providing expert advice and information on all aspects of inflammatory bowel disease. They are also the first point of contact via the inflammatory bowel disease advice line and email service.

You may be referred for assessment and treatment to other members of the IBD multidisciplinary team including surgeons and dietitians.

Patient information leaflets are available for most of the medicines that are prescribed for IBD. Please ensure that you have read and understand the information, if you have any questions please call the advice line.

• Azathioprine/Mercaptopurine
• Adalimumab
• Infliximab
• Vedolizumab
• Ustekinumab
• Golimumab
• Tofacitinib
• Filgotinib
• Upadacitinib
• Risankizumab

Outpatient Pharmacy opening hours

Situated in ENT Outpatients, Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI)

• Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30am to 5:30pm
• Wednesday and Friday: 8:30am to 6pm
• Saturday (BRI only): 9:30am to 1:30pm

Prescriptions

If you need more than three prescription items in three months or 14 in 12 months it may be worth buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate.

The charge for a single prescribed medicine is £9.35 per item, whereas a three-month PPC costs £30.25 and a 12-month PPC £108.10.

The IBD MDT meeting is held once a month and is attended by a group of experts in the field of IBD to improve coherence and continuity of care.

The meeting is attended by gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, histopathologists and the IBD nurses. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss any patients with complex problems, but we can discuss any patients if we feel it is necessary.

• Crohns and Colitis UK
  If your life is affected by Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, Crohns and Colitis UK is here to help you.The charity’s confidential support services provide practical information, help and guidance.
• Ileostomoy and Internal Pouch Association
  The Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Association, known as IA, is a registered charity supporting people living with an ileostomy or internal pouch, their families, friends and carers.
• CICRA
  CICRA’s vision is a childhood unlimited by inflammatory bowel disease. The registered charity’s mission is to lead research into better treatments, to support children and families with relevant information and advice, and to work with health professionals to improve care and to give children a voice to increase public understanding of Crohn’s and colitis.
• IBD Registry
  The purpose of the IBD Registry is to improve care of patients and understanding of the treatments they receive, to enable research, and to increase knowledge about IBD in the UK.
• Prescription Prepayment Certificate
  If you regularly pay prescription charges, a PPC could save you money. A PPC lets you get as many NHS prescriptions as you need for a set price.

On your first visit to an IBD clinic you will be seen by a consultant gastroenterologist in one of their clinics. If you have had an endoscopy then you may have already had a brief telephone discussion with one of the IBD nurses about your diagnosis.

All of the clinics are held at Outpatients West on the first floor of the BRI. It is important that you always book-in at the main reception desk on arrival.

Adolescent Transition and Young Persons’ Clinic

This clinic is for young people who have been under the care of a paediatrician. It is held every three months and the young person is seen by a gastroenterologist and paediatrician. Moving from paediatric to adult care can be a difficult time – as a child your parents or guardian are responsible for your care, as an adolescent you have to learn to take on that responsibility yourself. This clinic is the first stage in that process.

Transition to adult care (Crohn’s & Colitis UK)

Joint surgical clinic

In this clinic you will be seen by a gastroenterologist (not necessarily the doctor you normally see) and a surgeon. The clinic is for people who need, or would like, more information about surgical options. They run monthly.

Follow-up appointments

After your appointment you will be offered a subsequent appointment where you will be seen again by your consultant, a registrar, the specialist nurses or another member of the allied health professional team.

If you need to change your appointment this can be done via the contact centre on 01274 274274.

The main IBD clinics are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, however people with IBD will also be seen in general gastroenterology clinics on other days. In clinics where the IBD nurse specialists are present, you may see either an IBD nurse specialist or a consultant.

Clinic days/times

All of the following clinics are held in the Gastroenterology Unit, BRI. This is on level three and the Duke of York is the closest entrance.

IBD is unpredictable and you never know when it is going to flare up. The IBD advice line is a point of contact for patients to call if they are having problems, or have any questions in between appointments. It gives patients easy access to advice and supports them in the management of their condition.

It can also reduce outpatient appointments and unnecessary visits to GPs. Patients feel that the advice line is one of the most important aspects of the IBD Service in Bradford.

• The IBD advice line is an answerphone service where you can leave a message if you have concerns/worries or you are becoming unwell
• We aim to return your call within 2 working days
• The advice line should not be used in an emergency
• If you have an urgent or out-of-hours need contact your GP, NHS 111 or attend the emergency department
• When leaving a message please speak clearly, leave your name, hospital number if you know it and a contact number
• Opening hours: 8am to 10am Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
• The number to call is 01274 364822

Any non-urgent requests (e.g. blood forms, prescriptions) can be emailed to us and we will respond within 48 working hours, please email us at ibd.nurse@bthft.nhs.uk.

If you have been asked to attend for a blood test, this can now be booked online.

Bloods will be ordered by the IBD nurses prior to your appointment and a paper form is not required.

• Travelling with Crohn’s or Colitis (Crohn’s & Colitis UK)
• Travelling with IBD (IBD Passport)