The IBD Standards provide a clear, practical framework for healthcare professionals, showing the high-quality IBD care that patients across the UK should expect to receive. They’re designed to support services to reflect on current practice and to focus on Quality Improvement activity, where it can have the greatest impact, both nationally and locally.
The Standards are based on the experiences of 26,000 patients and have been developed by the IBD UK Alliance. They are deliberately aspirational, setting out what a great service should look like, rather than simply describing today’s reality.
This is the second set of IBD Standards to be published since the formation of the IBD UK Alliance. To support consistency and long-term benchmarking, the 2026 Standards build on the 2019 version and include 60 statements. They provide a framework for what high-quality should look like at every point of a patient’s journey – from first symptoms, to diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care.
You can explore the seven sections of the IBD Standards in more detail below, or you can download a full copy of the IBD Standards here: 2026 IBD Standards PDF
To find out more about how the 2026 IBD Standards were updated, as well as details on what changes have been made, read our FAQs here: Frequently Asked Questions
IBD Standards 2026
We are pleased to share the updated 2026 IBD Standards.
Section 1: The IBD service
Everyone living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease should have safe, consistent, high quality, personalised care. A well-organised and managed local Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) service is essential to delivering this.
Section 2: Pre-diagnosis
Everyone with IBD should receive an early and accurate diagnosis of their condition. This will mean they get the treatment and support they need sooner and be better able to manage their condition.
Section 3: Newly diagnosed
It’s essential to get the right treatment and support in place for newly diagnosed patients with IBD. This will give them the best outcomes and help them adjust to living with the condition.
Section 4: Flare management
When people with IBD experience a flare, they must be able recognise it – and access the right specialist advice and treatment to manage it as quickly as possible.
Section 5: Surgery
Patient outcomes are better when IBD surgery is timely, led by surgeons with the right expertise, and with effective multidisciplinary working. It’s important that patients fully understand their options and are offered psychological support.
Section 6: Inpatient care
For the best outcomes and experience, inpatients with IBD should be admitted to a specialist ward with appropriate facilities and specialist review. They should receive a holistic assessment and be offered appropriate services and support as a result. On discharge, they should have clear information and coordination of care.
Section 7: Ongoing care & monitoring
As IBD is a fluctuating, lifelong condition, people need ongoing care to live well with their condition. A personalised care plan will empower patients, support self-management and help primary and secondary care communicate effectively.
IBD Standards 2026 - FAQs