When should I refer a patient?
- Before you consider referring a patient for secondary care assessment, have you looked at the helpful Clinical Knowledge Summaries hosted on the NICE website? From peri-anal problems to IBS, there is helpful information to cover a multitude of scenarios.
I want advice
We are happy to provide advice only
I want to refer for investigation
- If you think further investigation may be required, please use the Colorectal Bundle of tests available on ICE.
- An anaemia screen, Creatinine & Electrolytes and Faecal Haemoglobin stool test (FIT) are all recommended.
- Test results will be available on ICE within 2 - 4 working days.
- If the FIT test reveals that faecal haemoglobin is undetectable, then significant underlying bowel disease is extremely rare.
- Please include the results of blood and FIT tests in your referral letter because this will facilitate speedy Consultant triage.