If you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and your care is not working, the useful question when you choose an IBD clinic is not which hospital tops a list. It is who will see you, how soon, and whether they specialise in IBD (inflammatory bowel disease).
What is an IBD clinic?
An IBD clinic is a service set up specifically for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In the NHS, IBD care usually sits within a hospital gastroenterology department, with gastroenterologists, IBD nurse specialists, dietitians and pharmacists working as a team.
A private IBD clinic offers the same kind of specialist care, paid for yourself or through insurance. The differences patients notice most are how quickly they are seen, how long appointments last, and how easy it is to reach the team between visits.
What to look for in an IBD specialist
- IBD is what they do. A clinician who sees Crohn’s and colitis every day will know the treatments, the tests and the side effects in detail.
- You know who you will see. That might be a gastroenterologist or an advanced IBD nurse practitioner. Ask whether they can prescribe (an independent prescriber can) and arrange tests themselves.
- Access to modern treatment. If you are on, or may need, a biologic such as infliximab, vedolizumab or ustekinumab, check they can give infusions and monitor drug levels.
- Tests without starting again. Blood tests, calprotectin (a stool test for gut inflammation), drug levels and scans should be arranged as part of your care, not as separate referrals.
- A specialist dietitian. Diet matters in IBD, and a gut specialist dietitian is different from a general nutritionist.
- Clear prices. What a consultation costs, what is included, and what tests or treatment would add.
- A written plan. You should leave with a care plan you can share with your GP and hospital team.
For a fuller checklist, the IBD Standards set out what good IBD care should look like anywhere in the UK, from diagnosis to long-term follow-up.
The most important question is who will actually see you. You want someone who works with Crohn’s and colitis every day, knows your medicines inside out, and has the time to listen before they prescribe.
Kay Greveson, founder and advanced IBD nurse practitioner
NHS or private IBD care?
NHS IBD care is free at the point of use and includes biologic treatment when you meet the national criteria. Many patients receive excellent care from their NHS IBD team. Where it can fall short is time: a long wait for follow-up during a flare, or a short appointment when there is a lot to discuss.
Private care does not have to replace your NHS team. Many people stay under their hospital and use a private IBD clinic for a timely review, a second opinion, tests or dietary advice, with a summary sent back to their NHS consultant.
What happens at a first IBD appointment
A good first appointment is a full review, not a quick prescription. Expect to go through your diagnosis, how your symptoms have changed, the medicines you have tried and how you responded, and what matters most to you right now, whether that is a flare, a treatment that has stopped working or planning ahead.
It helps to bring your most recent clinic letters, blood and calprotectin results, any scan or colonoscopy reports, and a list of your current medicines and doses. You should leave knowing what happens next: tests to arrange, a change in treatment, a referral, or a date to review.
How private IBD care is paid for
Most people pay for private IBD appointments themselves, one appointment at a time, with tests and treatment priced separately. A clinic should tell you the cost of each before it happens, so there are no surprises on the bill. You can see our prices here.
If you have health insurance, check with your insurer before you book. Ask whether your policy covers the consultation, tests and any treatment such as infusions, whether you need a GP referral or pre-authorisation, and whether an existing condition like Crohn’s or colitis is excluded.
If you live abroad or travel often
IBD does not stop when you travel, and continuity is what most people worry about. If you spend part of the year in the UK, look for a clinic that can review you by video before you arrive, time infusions and blood tests around your dates, and send a written summary to your doctors at home.
Bring your records in English where you can, including your current treatment plan and recent drug levels. Our page for international patients explains how we plan care around a visit, and IBD Passport, the travel charity Kay founded, has practical advice on medicines, insurance and vaccinations.
Questions to ask before you book
- Who will I see, and what is their experience in IBD?
- How soon can I be seen, and is that in person or by video?
- Can you prescribe, arrange tests and give infusions, or will I be referred elsewhere?
- What does the first appointment cost, and what is included?
- Will you share my plan and results with my GP and hospital team?
- How do I contact you between appointments?
For information and support whatever care you choose, Crohn’s & Colitis UK is the national charity for people living with IBD.
Who The London IBD Clinic is for
We are a nurse-led IBD clinic in London, in Wimpole Street and by video. You see an advanced IBD nurse practitioner who can assess you, prescribe and arrange tests, and we refer you to a gastroenterologist we work with when you need one. You can meet the team here.
We see adults over 18 with a confirmed diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. If you do not have a diagnosis yet, or have another bowel condition such as IBS or coeliac disease, we will suggest a gastroenterologist who can help.
Your next step
Everything starts with a first appointment: a full review of your history, symptoms and treatment, and a written care plan you take away. You can see all our services first if you prefer.
