Process and Systems: A population-based model of care for people with inflammatory bowel disease – patient-reported outcomes

The NHS was not designed to provide ongoing support for people with long-term conditions. Conventional outpatient care relies on a diary-based appointment system, with regular follow-up offered to patients with a chronic disorder, not always tailored to clinical need. In contrast, at East Surrey Hospital, open access to the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) service through telephone, email and a web-based portal known as Patients Know Best is offered to all people with IBD, putting them at the centre of the care pathway. This guides and directs those with the greatest clinical need to the clinician with the most appropriate clinical expertise to provide high quality consistent care. Over a 3 month period in 2015, the service avoided 20 hospital admissions, 34 emergency department attendances and 110 outpatient appointments. There is a demonstrable improvement in perception of IBD control and in the patient activation measure, with 66% of those who have used the open access service demonstrating medium to high levels of activation, compared with 11% in those new to the service.