FOI 2025/1539

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the assessment, referral, commissioning, and management of patients with suspected or diagnosed Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) within your Integrated Care Board (ICB) area.
Please provide the information outlined below for each of the last five financial years, unless otherwise stated.
1. IBS Patient Referrals
a. The number of patients diagnosed with IBS who were referred to gastroenterology services.
b. The number of patients diagnosed with IBS who were referred to dietetic services.
2. GP Workforce, Training, and Clinical Guidance
a. The number of GPs currently employed or contracted within your ICB who have additional training, accreditation, or a declared special interest in gut health, gastroenterology, or IBS.
b. The guidelines, diagnostic criteria, and clinical pathways followed by GPs when assessing patients with suspected IBS (e.g., NICE guidance, local pathways, required investigations, and red-flag exclusions).
3. Referral Pathways and Waiting Lists
a. The process for referring an IBS patient to a gastroenterologist.
b. The current number of IBS patients on the gastroenterology waiting list and the average current waiting time for a first appointment.
c. The process for referring an IBS patient to a dietitian.
d. The current number of IBS patients on the dietetic waiting list and the average current waiting time for a first appointment.

4. Patient Complaints and Diagnostic Safety (Past 5 Years)
Please provide the number of complaints received relating to:
a. Incorrect or inappropriate advice given by a GP to a patient with IBS.
b. Misdiagnosis involving IBS (including IBS misdiagnosed as another condition, or another condition misdiagnosed as IBS).
c. The steps taken by the ICB over the last five years to improve the quality of IBS diagnosis, referral accuracy, GP advice, and patient safety.
5. Commissioning, Oversight, and Quality Improvement
a. Does the ICB commission any specialist IBS clinics, multidisciplinary gut health services, or community-based IBS programmes? If so, please describe these services.
b. Has the ICB identified any service gaps for IBS care in its commissioning assessments or needs analyses?
c. Does the ICB audit GP adherence to NICE IBS guidelines? If so, please provide details of the most recent audits.
d. Has the ICB conducted any ICS-wide reviews of IBS diagnostic practices in the last five years?
e. Does the ICB provide or commission any digital tools, online self-management resources, or mobile applications for IBS care?

1. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) does not hold this level of information.

a. As above

b. As above

2.

a. NHS GM does not hold this level of information.

b. GPs are expected to follow NICE guidance when assessing patients with suspected IBS.

3.

a. GPs are able to refer to gastroenterology via the electronic referral system, (eRS)

b. NHS GM does not hold this information. The requestor would need to contact Acute and Independent Sector providers direct.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of information – Bolton NHS FT (boltonft.nhs.uk)

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of Information Requests :: Northern Care Alliance

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of Information – Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (mft.nhs.uk)

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of Information – Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of Information Requests :: Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care (tamesideandglossopicft.nhs.uk)

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – WWL Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | FOI Disclosure Log

Beacon Medical Services – Beacon – Beacon Medical Services Group

Endocare Diagnostics – Endocare Diagnostics | insourcing, outsourcing & direct to test solutions

Spire – Manchester Private Hospital & Stockport | Spire Manchester Hospital

Circle Healthcare – Private hospitals in Manchester

Manchester Surgical Services – Home – Manchester Surgical Services

c. GPs can refer to dietician service via the electronic referral system, (eRS)

d. NHS GM does not hold this information. The requestor would need to contact Acute Providers.

4. NHS GM became responsible for the investigation of complaints about primary care services on 1 July 2023 and we hold data for complaints received from 1 July 2022. Our response to this question is therefore based upon the data we hold. Should you require data before 1 July 2022, this should be requested from NHS England directly. Further information about how to submit a Freedom of Information request to NHS England can be found at the following link:

NHS England » Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations

a. Nil

b. I can confirm that the NHS GM holds the information regarding the number of complaints received. However, due to the low numbers involved we consider this to be exempt under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as the disclosure of this information may lead to the identification of individuals. This exemption is not subject to the public interest test

c. None

5.

a. No

b. No

c. No

d. No

e. Not specifically however providers may utilise online / digital / self help tools as part of their service offer.