Why is it important?
Almost half of IBD patients have at least one flare a year.
This can have a huge impact on their physical and emotional wellbeing. For the NHS, the major impact is financial – as it’s 2-3 times more expensive to treat a patient with active disease compared to someone in remission.
When someone has a flare, the GP is often their first port of call. But 52% of GPs say they are “less than confident” or “not confident” if an IBD patient comes to their clinic with a flare-up1.
This is why flare pathways are so important. Co-produced by a working group of health professionals and patients as part of the RCGP and Crohn’s & Colitis UK IBD Spotlight Project, and approved by the British Society of Gastroenterology, they give primary care health professionals accessible guidance on steroid intervention, dose escalation, and when to refer to secondary care.
With these pathways, suitable patients can be managed appropriately. This means better shared care and more confidence in responding to flares effectively, including rapid access to advice from the IBD team.
