The Centre co-ordinates services in gastroenterology, colorectal surgery, pathology, pharmacy, nutirition, nursing and research to provide IBD patients with seamless care.

Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
These two common inflammatory bowel diseases are emerging diseases in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Both disorders are of unknown cause, and are characterised by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

In Ulcerative Colitis, the inflammation is restricted to the large intestines. In Crohn's Disease, any part of the gastrointestinal tract may be affected, ranging from the mouth to the anus.

Symptoms
The common symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) include:   

• Diarrhoea 
• Bloody stools 
• Passage of mucus

Other symptoms may include:

• Fever 
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain 
• Arthralgia and arthritis
• Uveitis and episcleritis 

Treatment
IBD is a chronic disease with no curative treatment. There are, however, effective drugs to control the disease. Medications need to be taken on a lifelong basis. As patients with the disease is known to undergo periodic relapses and remission, the medications serve to reduce the number of relapses in the patient. In some instances, surgery may be required.

As these diseases are chronic in nature, they usually require specialist medical care in conjunction with good inter-disciplinary care involving the nutritionists, nurses and pharmacists. They provide patients with advice on medications and diet, as well as counselling for those patients who require surgery.

Referral Criteria
Direct referrals can be made to the IBD Centre for patients with established diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's disease.

For patients with GI symptoms suggestive of IBD, referrals can be made to the Departments of Gastroenterology and Colorectal Surgery for initial evaluation.

IBD Support Group
The Centre also runs an IBD Support Group in conjunction with the National Foundation of Digestive Diseases. The support group members consists of patients and their family and friends. Meetings are organised on a quarterly basis to allow for better understanding and education of these complex diseases. Additionally, this forum allows for individuals to share and support each other in their everyday struggles.

Staff Members

Gastroenterologists
A/ Prof Ooi Choon Jin MBBS, MRCP (UK), FAMS (Gastroenterology), FRCP (Edin)	Director, IBD Centre Senior Consultant, Gastroenterology
Dr Ling Khoon Ling MBBS, M Med (Int Med), MRCP (UK)	Consultant, Gastroenterology
Colorectal Surgeons
A/ Prof Eu Kong Weng MBBS, FRCS (Edin), M Med (Surg), FICS (USA), FAMS (Gen Surg) Dr Tang Choong Leong MBBS, M Med (Surg), FRCS (Edin), FICS (USA), FAMS (Gen Surg) Dr Ooi Boon Swee MBBS, FRCS (Edin), FRCS (Glasg), FRCS (Ireland), FAMS (Gen Surg)	Co-Director, IBD Centre Head & Senior Consultant, Colorectal Surgery Senior Consultant, Colorectal Surgery Consultant, Colorectal Surgery
Pathologists
Dr Priyanthi M. Kumarasinghe MBBS, FRCPA, MIAC Dr Yap Wai Ming MBBS, MPath, FRCPath, FAMS, FAMM	Senior Consultant, Pathology Senior Consultant, Pathology
Pharmacist
Mr Lim Teong Guan B.Pharm (Hons)
Nutritionist
Mr Tan Lee Boo BSc (Hons) Dietetics	Senior Dietitian
Stoma Nurse
Ms Ong Choo Eng	Ag Nurse Clinician