Crohn's and Colitis UK reacts to online hospital inclusion
Crohn's and Colitis UK has reacted to the news that people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are to be among the first to have the option of accessing the new NHS Online Hospital. IBD is one of nine conditions being prioritised by the online hospital when it launches next year. The online hospital will be delivered through the NHS App and will connect patients with specialist clinicians from across England without leaving their home or potentially waiting longer for a face-to-face appointment.
Inclusion is 'significant'
PIF member Crohn’s and Colitis UK called the inclusion of IBD in the early plans for the online hospital "significant". The charity knows that many people living with Crohn’s disease and colitis face long waits for outpatient appointments, difficulty accessing specialist teams, and variation in care depending on where they live. The charity has been calling for better use of digital tools to improve access to care, co-ordination between services and communication for people living with long-term conditions like Crohn’s and colitis. The charity is hopeful that effective examples of using digital tools can be shared across the country. But it warned: "Crohn’s and colitis are complex, lifelong conditions, and not all care can or should be delivered online. It is essential that digital options enhance care rather than fragment it or create new barriers."
Safety, support and choice
Crohn’s and Colitis UK has shared what it needs to see for the NHS Online Hospital to be a success:
- Strong clinical safety and accountability with clear responsibility for decisions and outcomes.
- Continuity of care: Any new digital pathway needs to work with local IBD teams rather than fragmenting care any further.
- Resource and support for the IBD workforce: Teams under pressure need more resource to support patients.
- Meaningful patient choice: the ability to opt in or out of digital care easily should be clear and shouldn’t disadvantage your care.
The charity has said it will be engaging with NHS England to understand more about what the online hospital service will mean for people with Crohn’s and colitis. It hopes to ensure the voices and experiences of people living with IBD are reflected in how it is designed.