Inflammatory Bowel Disease Service

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) service is available to patients who have been diagnosed with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease and under the care of a Gastroenterologist.

What is IBD?

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, affecting more than 500,000, (1:123) people in the UK. These conditions are chronic (lifelong) disorders of the digestive tract, with periods of remission and relapse. Symptoms of pain, diarrhoea (sometimes with blood and mucus), tiredness and weight loss may be evident due to ongoing inflammation of the bowel.

The IBD Team

The IBD Team at South West Acute Hospital /Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex comprise of:

Consultant Gastroenterologists – Dr Campbell, Dr Geoghegan and Dr Elrayah
IBD Nurse – Tracy Hill
Specialist Pharmacist – Sharon McGuigan
Infusion Nurse – Finola Coffey

The Team at Altnagelvin Hospital comprise of:

Consultant Gastroenterologists – Dr Ferguson, Dr Beharry & Dr Callaghan
IBD Nurse Stephanie Dunn

Both areas have access to Dietetics, Psychology Counsellors and Colorectal Surgeons who are all part of a team to support you and your condition.

Advice Line

Please see ‘Contacts’ at the bottom of the page.

The Advice line is for those looking more information and greater understanding about their underlying condition, drug treatments, diet, surgical options, pregnancy, travel etc. as well as for rapid access to clinic if you are experiencing a relapse/ flare up of your condition.

It is also important to ring the Advice line if you are experiencing side effects to new medications, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, painful persistent swelling of the abdomen, unexplained weight loss or fever.

There is an answer machine facility and it is checked throughout the working day. Please leave your name, date of birth, contact details and message and your call will be returned. If your call is of an urgent nature or outside of working hours and cannot wait for the IBD Nurse then contact your GP, GP Out of Hours for advice or Emergency Department.

IBD Outpatient Clinics

When you arrive for your outpatient appointment you will be seen by a member of our specialist Inflammatory Bowel Disease Team.

This may be the Consultant, Registrar (Doctor) or IBD nurse. The Consultant supervising your care is always available should the team need to discuss your care further.

Our outpatient appointments are booked in advance as the service is very busy. We aim to keep some appointments free for Rapid Access for patients who suffer a sudden flare of their condition and in these cases we aim to see you within a week.

What if I cannot make my appointment?

We appreciate there are many reasons why you might not be able to attend you appointment, but it is vital that you please let us know at least one week in advance. This is so that we can offer your appointment to another patient and rebook you to be seen in a timely manner so we can still oversee your care.

IBD South West Acute Hospital/Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex Outpatient clinics:

You will be reviewed by your Consultant and team on a regular basis to monitor your condition, which will be at either Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex or South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.

Tuesday Dr Elrayah 9:00am – 12:00pm South West Acute Hospital
Tuesday Dr Geoghegan and IBD Nurse 9:00am – 12:00pm South West Acute Hospital
Thursday Dr Campbell, Dr Elrayah, Dr Geoghegan, IBD Nurse 9:00am – 12:00pm South West Acute Hospital
Friday Dr Elrayah 9:00am – 12:00pm South West Acute Hospital

IBD Altnagelvin Hospital Outpatient clinics:

Monday and Wednesday Dr Ferguson and IBD Nurse 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Tuesday and Thursday Dr Callaghan 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Wednesday Dr Beharry 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Friday Dr Beharry 9:00pm – 12:00pm

Outpatient Appointments

Patients who normally attend outpatients will be finding that their appointment has been postponed. The Gastroenterology team will try and contact people by phone to check on how they are doing or alternatively patients can ring into the IBD Adviceline to seek advice, and a very small number of patients with urgent problems will be seen in person.

See ‘Further Information’ below for guidance and information.
Contact Details

Advice Line South West Acute Hospital and Omagh Hospital and Primaty Care Complex – Telephone: 028 6638 2093

Tracy Hill

Advice Line Altnagelvin Hospital – Telephone/Text: 077 8044 9682

Stephanie Dunn

Email

IBD Nurses:

Stephanie Dunn – Stephanie.Dunn@westerntrust.hscni.net
Further Information

Flare Card
Crohns and Colitis UK
British Society of Gastroenterology
IBD standards
Travel
Radar Key
Colostomy UK or 24 hr helpline 0800 3284 257
Ileostomy/pouch support
Information available in other languages

Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu, Welsh and Polish translations available on the CCUK webite