Gastrointestinal System: Diseases
(asked on 22nd July 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) increase clinical and public awareness of small bacterial overgrowth symptoms and (b) ensure that patients with digestive problems receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.
In the diagnosis and treatment of digestive conditions like small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) we expect health professionals to take into account best practice guidance, including that published by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) and professional organisations.
In NICE’s Clinical Knowledge Summary on the assessment, investigation, and referral of chronic, which is more than four weeks' duration, diarrhoea in adults, health professionals are advised to consider SIBO when looking for features suggestive of an underlying cause such as systemic illness affecting gastrointestinal motility. The guidance is available at the following link:
The British Society of Gastroenterology provides resources and guidelines on SIBO, particularly in the context of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While not all individuals with IBS have SIBO, there's a significant overlap, with studies suggesting that up to 80% of IBS patients may also have SIBO. Additionally, the British Dietic Association provides resources and guidelines on dietary management for IBS, which can be relevant for SIBO due to the overlap in symptoms and potential dietary triggers.
The NHS.UK website offers extensive information for the public on gut health, covering topics from digestive health tips and healthy eating for a healthy gut to specific conditions that are associated with SIBO including IBS, coeliac disease, and diverticular disease. The site provides advice on diet and managing common digestive issues. The national charity Guts UK also offers information, support, and resources for people with digestive health conditions, including on SIBO.
The Getting it Right First Time gastroenterology programme aims to improve the diagnosis and management of digestive problems by streamlining referrals, promoting early specialist triage, and implementing proactive care. The programme focuses on ensuring that patients are seen by the right specialists promptly, leading to earlier diagnosis and more appropriate management of digestive issues.
Additionally, community diagnostic centres (CDCs) offer a variety of diagnostic tests and scans for digestive problems, providing faster, more convenient access to diagnostic services closer to patients’ homes. NHS England is continuing to roll out CDCs, with additional capacity being delivered in 2025/26.