Royal Devon team shortlisted for improving IBD care

An innovative NHS programme improving how people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are diagnosed and treated has been shortlisted for a national award.

Developed over more than a decade, a whole-system redesign of the regional IBD diagnostic pathway is transforming care for people living with the debilitating gut condition.

The programme team have been named finalists in the Clinical Pathway Redesign Award category at this year’s HSJ Awards.

IBD is an umbrella term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which affect 1 in 120 people in the UK. These lifelong conditions can cause unpleasant symptoms such as abdominal pain that won’t go away, diarrhoea that can’t wait, and blood in your poo.

Delays in diagnosis are common because people feel embarrassed or worried about seeking help. Around one quarter of patients experience symptoms for more than a year before diagnosis.

Led by the Royal Devon and the University of Exeter, the initiative has focused on redesigning the IBD diagnostic pathway across the region. This includes using digital health records to identify people who may have IBD sooner, supporting faster access to specialist clinics and dedicated endoscopy slots, and improving laboratory processes.

This redesign has made a significant difference, cutting referral-to-treatment time from 58 days to 34 days. It has also been linked with a 40% reduction in people coming to hospital as emergencies, and a 68% reduction in people needing surgery in the first year after diagnosis.

Vida Cairnes, Specialist IBD Nurse, said:

“We're delighted that the programme has been recognised by the HSJ Awards. The nomination reflects more than a decade of collaboration to improve how people with IBD are diagnosed and treated across our region.”

The programme has brought together expertise from across primary care, acute hospital services, patient and public engagement groups, charities and academic organisations, creating a more joined-up approach to identifying, diagnosing and supporting people with IBD.

It offers a model that other NHS services could adapt, improving quality of life for people with IBD.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this fantastic achievement, and good luck to the team at the awards ceremony in November.

The RAPID-IBD study

The latest phase of the programme is the RAPID-IBD study, which explores whether home testing could help people access support sooner and reduce delays to diagnosis.

Funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the national patient charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK, the study explores whether directly providing people with a simple test can help them take greater control of their health.

Alongside changes within services, the team has also taken a creative approach to raising awareness and helping people recognise symptoms sooner, bringing together expertise from a local digital marketing agency, the Trust marketing team and the University of Exeter. This included the far-reaching ‘Know Your Sh*t’ campaign, supported by Exeter City Football Club defender Jack Fitzwater, who shared his own experience of living with ulcerative colitis.

RAPID-IBD has nearly reached its 5,000-participant target, with recruitment set to close ahead of schedule. This is a brilliant achievement for everyone involved and shows the value of making testing easier for people to access.

While the full study results are not yet available, the testing has already picked up unexpected findings in a small number of participants, including bowel cancer. Some of those participants were keen to share their experiences, helping to show how earlier access to testing can make a real difference.

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