Inflammatory Bowel Disease Service
The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Service is part of the Gastroenterology Department at Dorset County Hospital.
Our service consists of two IBD Consultants, three IBD Nurses, an IBD Pharmacist and an IBD Administrator. We are also part of a wider multidisciplinary team and hold regular meetings with our IBD Colorectal Surgeons, Radiologist and Histopathologist to discuss our patients' treatment pathways.
Our team
Dr Angel Castro Silva, Consultant Gastroenterologist
Dr James Shutt, Consultant Gastroenterologist
Mr Ben Stubbs, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Paul Ng, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Arabis Oglesby, Lead IBD Specialist Nurse
Heather Caines, IBD Specialist Nurse
Kelly Blackmore, IBD Specialist Nurse
Katie Travers, IBD Pharmacist
Natalie Middleton, IBD Administrator
We aim to provide a patient-centred service offering all patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and their carer’s education, information and support to enable them to live as normal a lifestyle as possible.
We hold regular clinics at Blandford and Weymouth Community Hospitals as well as Dorset County Hospital and the Outpatient Assessment Centre at South Walks House, where we see new and follow–up patients to review treatment and offer education and health advice as necessary.
We operate a system where patients can come to clinic at short notice in the event of a relapse of their Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This is arranged via the telephone and email helpline.
IBD telephone helpline: 01305 255102
IBD email helpline: IBDNurses@dchft.nhs.uk
The IBD telephone helpline service has a 24–hour voicemail system. If you have any worries or concerns about your Inflammatory Bowel Disease please do not hesitate to contact us. We aim to return your call with 48 hours during the working week.
Patients often phone because they have increased symptoms. It is important to seek early advice if you experience any of the following symptoms: increased diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea or vomiting, bleeding from the back passage or other symptoms that cause you concern. We may advise on increasing or altering your current medication. We will, following assessment of your symptoms, arrange an urgent clinic appointment if required.
Patients may also have queries regarding their medication such as dosage and side effects. We are happy to discuss these and other issues related to your Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
For general information on IBD, please refer to www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk
If you are a healthcare professional/GP seeking advice, please refer to www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/resources/toolkits/inflammatory-bowel-disease-toolkit
We also have a DCH IBD Community Group on Facebook. The aim of this group is to bring together our local IBD Community in a non-judgemental, supportive forum as a secure place to share experiences, ideas and helpful information to lessen the burden and impact of IBD. Click here to join the group.
Click here to access our patient information leaflets.