Inflammatory bowel disease nurses and negligent care

During the last 30 years inflammatory bowel disease specialist nurses have become commonplace throughout the United Kingdom. These days they play a very significant role in the day-to-day management of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. They provide advice on the telephone, run out-patient clinics, administer biologic therapies and provide support to inpatients. However, there are no mandatory training programmes or required accreditation to specifically support these activities. As a result of these clinical roles, IBD nurses are now commonly involved in cases of alleged clinical negligence and questions arise to their independent practice and to whom they are directly responsible. This paper reviews these issues in some detail.