Why is it important?
As over half of IBD patients experience at least one flare each year, prompt access to advice and support is very important.
An IBD flare can present with a broad range of signs and symptoms. When specialists are able to assess these worsening symptoms early, they can create a timely and effective treatment plan. This can reduce the risk of complications, including excessive steroid use and unscheduled emergency department attendances. In 2023, roughly one in five patients reported spending time in an NHS hospital because of their IBD in the past two years. Nearly half of these were admitted to hospital more than once. With early flare intervention, we may be able to reduce the amount of unnecessary admissions.
For patients, a flare can be a very worrying experience. Fast access to healthcare teams who know them can help provide important support and reassurance. All patients should know how to recognise a potential flare and who to contact. IBD service advice lines can be an important route for this, and it’s essential that these are staffed appropriately by trained personnel – and that patients know about them.
While the majority of patients are receiving responses from their IBD advice service within two working days, 32% of patients in the 2023 Benchmarking reported waiting to or more working days for a response—with one in nine waiting over a week.
We also know that, for many, treatment escalation, or initiation of a treatment plan, isn’t happening quickly enough following flare review. Only a quarter of adults reported commencement of treatment within 48 hours of review, with 21% reporting that treatment escalation or initiation took 2-7 days, and 11% waiting more than 2 weeks.