Covid-19 - Crohn’s and Colitis
We are working with Crohn’s and Colitis UK and British Society of Gastroenterology to keep the most up-to-date information in the public domain.
For the latest advice please visit the Crohn’s and Colitis UK website.
At Addenbrooke’s we look after around 10,000 patients with either Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or microscopic colitis – these are the main forms of IBD. This information sheet describes how you can access the service. For example, if you have IBD, you may be feeling unwell with a flare-up of your symptoms, or you may have any queries or concerns about your condition or treatment.
It will mainly be useful for people newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases who are not so familiar with how things run. It can also serve as a useful reminder for more established patients.
This fact sheet is not intended to describe the conditions themselves or how to treat them. There are many other sources of information which give more details on these topics. For example, see the crohn’s and colitis UK website and the listing at the end of this booklet.
You should note that IBD is different to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
IBD is often unpredictable in terms of when symptoms might recur. It is therefore important that you have access to advice and support in between clinic visits to prevent a more severe attack and perhaps save you having to come back to clinic. The sooner appropriate treatment is started, the better the outcome is.
- The IBD advice line number to call is 01223 257212. This service is available for information and advice on IBD treatment or related issues between your normal clinic appointments.
- The advice line and MyChart are non-urgent services. MyChart messages can take up to 10 working days to be answered and should be used where no further discussion is required to assist with your query.
The IBD advice line is a voicemail service, so it is important that you leave a message clearly stating your full name, hospital number, with a contact number and brief description of query. Your message will be reviewed by our IBD administrative team. If a telephone clinic with a nurse is needed, they will arrange this for you within 72 working hours. If a call is not required, a member of the team will respond to your query directly, which may be by phone or through MyChart.
- If your call is more urgent or if it is clear the IBD nurses are not available, then contact your GP or emergency GP team: if necessary, they can speak with the gastroenterologist on call for further advice.
- Please find IBD advice line information on Addenbrooke's web page or please ask for a copy of our IBD telephone advice line leaflet if you have not already been given one.
- Please use MyChart for simple, non-urgent enquiries that do not require a telephone discussion. Please allow up to 10 working days for a response. Delays may occur during periods of reduced staffing. If you have not yet received a response, please do not send duplicate messages as this may cause further delays. We will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
If you are unsure about when you should call the advice line and are worried about “being a nuisance” it is important that you let us know if you experience any of the following:
- severe abdominal pain or persistent painful swelling/bloating of the abdomen
- vomiting for more than 24 hours
- diarrhoea or changes in bowel habits not responding to your usual medication
- persistent bleeding from the back passage
- unexplained weight loss
- fever (greater than 38°C)
- side effects or any unusual reactions from your medications