Freedom of Information (FOI)
The Balfour, Foreland Road,
Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NZ
www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk
Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Date: 31/08/2022
Via email: request-889935-
Tel: 01856 888 220
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Email: xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxxx
Dear Sir/ Madam,
RE: Freedom of Information Request 202223 / 223 - Primary Care pathway lower gastrointestinal
symptoms
Your Query
Date of Request
August 2022
I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on behalf of Crohn's & Colitis UK to
request the following information:
Do you have a clear pathway in place for primary care for the investigation of non-cancer related lower
gastrointestinal symptoms that include the use of faecal calprotectin tests?
If so, I would appreciate if you are able to share any details you may have.
If it is not possible to provide this information, due to exceeding the cost of compliance limits, I would be
grateful if you could advise how this request could be refined.
Response
Please note that NHS Orkney consists of Balfour Hospital and a combination of Board-administered and
independently contracted practices. The independent practices facilitate their own systems and are not
duty bound to supply a response via the Board and requests for information should be sent directly to
them. All contact details can be found on NHS Orkney’s website www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk by following the
link to GP & Community Services.
NHS Orkney can provide the following response in relation to the Board administered practices.
NHS Orkney Board administered practices do not have a designated care pathway in place the
investigation of non-cancer related lower gastrointestinal symptoms. GPs will tend to use a favoured
resource when they encounter a problem such as this which may include:
NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS)
GP Notebook
Red Whale online handbook.
NB learning
RCGP toolkit
These in turn draw upon the following guidance, which specifically states that in suspected cases of
inflammatory bowel disease, the use of a faecal calprotectin test should be
considered.
Crohn’s disease management (NG129 2019).
Ulcerative colitis management (NG130 2019).
Faecal calprotectin (DG11 2013).
Faecal calprotectin in primary care as a decision diagnostic for inflammatory bowel disease and
irritable bowel syndrome (The New Faecal Calprotectin Care Pathway – NICE Consensus
Statement 2018).
Orkney NHS Board:
The Balfour, Forelands Road,
Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 INZ
Chair: Meghan McEwen
Chief Executive: Michael Dickson
Our community, we care, you matter....
House, New Scapa Road,
Caring for the people of Orkney
Orkney NHS Board is the common name of Orkney Health Board
I hope this helps with your request.
NHS Orkney is a small remote and rural health board within Scotland. All responses to Freedom of
Information requests are collated in accordance with the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland)
Act 2002.
Under section 20(1) of the Act, if you are dissatisfied with the way NHS Orkney has dealt with your request,
you have a right to ask for a review of our actions and decisions in relation to your request.
A request for review should be made within 40 working days of receipt of this letter and NHS Orkney will
reply within 20 working days of receipt. Review requests should be sent in writing to Dr Louise Wilson,
Director of Public Health, NHS Orkney, The Balfour, Foreland Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NZ or by e-
mail via xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxxx.
Requests for appeal should be made in writing to: Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS. Telephone: 01334 464610, Fax: 01334 464611, Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxx or on the online appeal portal www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.
FOI responses (subject to the removal of personal information) are published on NHS Orkney’s website at:
http://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/foi-response-disclosure-log.
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Officer
NHS Orkney
Orkney NHS Board:
The Balfour, Forelands Road,
Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 INZ
Chair: Meghan McEwen
Chief Executive: Michael Dickson
Our community, we care, you matter....
House, New Scapa Road,
Caring for the people of Orkney
Orkney NHS Board is the common name of Orkney Health Board
