Our symptom checker was created as part of our Earlier Diagnosis campaign, which aims to raise awareness of Crohn’s and Colitis symptoms among the public.

Over 500,000 people in the UK are living with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, the two main forms of IBD. But it’s taking too long for them to be diagnosed. Even before the pandemic, 1 in 4 people said they waited more than a year and visited A&E at least once before getting diagnosed.

The symptom checker asks people just 5 questions about the symptoms they’re experiencing and their age, and then tells them whether they should make an appointment with their GP. Our research shows that people find it difficult to talk to their GP about their symptoms and they worry about wasting their GP’s time. So, to help start the conversation and keep their appointment on track, people can also receive an email of their symptoms and a letter explaining the symptom checker for their GP.

Our symptom checker was created in consultation with GPs and gastroenterologists. It was tested with people who have Crohn’s and Colitis symptoms but who do not yet have a diagnosis, and with people who have a diagnosis of Crohn’s or Colitis. It is based on the British Society for Gastroenterology Guidelines for IBD and the NICE Guidelines DG11 and NG12.