The IBD Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Helping you and your family live well with a diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
What is the role of the CNS?
The role of the IBD CNS includes:
- Provide explanation and support to you and your child in relation to your child’s IBD. This includes explanation of diagnosis, investigations required and medications prescribed. At CHI Crumlin, the IBD CNS provides a support service through email and voicemail. This service is there to help and guide you if your child’s IBD becomes problematic and/or assist with queries in relation to their condition. This may range from providing reassuring advice to bringing forward a clinic appointment or, if your child is more unwell, directing you to your GP or hospital for assessment or investigations.
- The CNS, working as a member of the GI team, ensures that your child receives the care and support to help them cope with the day-to-day effects of their condition.
What if my child is unwell?
People with IBD occasionally experience worsening of their symptoms, known as a ‘flare’ of their disease. If you are concerned that your child is unwell and having a flare, you should email us at ibd.nurses@childrenshealthireland.ie or leave a voicemail. The CNS will contact you to discuss your child’s symptoms and make a plan. They will inform your consultant of such changes in your child’s condition. It may be necessary to take your child to the GP or hospital for review and to perform further stool and blood tests.
What if my child is unwell after hours, at night or the weekend?
If your child becomes unwell or you are concerned outside of office hours (8am–4pm, Monday–Friday) you should contact your GP or local emergency department. There is always a paediatric Gastroenterologist on call in CHI and if your local hospital is concerned, they will make contact with the consultant on call here.
Practical Information
Who do I contact for letters to support medical services applications or letters for school etc.?
All applications and forms for health and/or social welfare benefits must be brought to your own GP to be completed. The GI service can only provide a letter of support if required by the relevant Government Department. The GI secretarial team process letters of support within two months and require two months’ advance notice. If you require such letters, email gi.unit@childrenshealthireland.ie.
How do I change my child’s appointment?
After initial diagnosis, you will be sent an outpatient appointment to see your consultant. The GI (gastrointestinal) department is in Medical Tower 2 at CHI Crumlin. Clinics are extremely busy and if the date is not suitable, you should call (01) 428 2535 or email medicaltower.apts@childrenshealthireland.ie as soon as possible ahead of the date to change it. Occasionally, circumstances will change and an appointment may need to be changed either by the patient’s family or by the hospital. The admin team will endeavour to accommodate any changes that are required to be made.
What if my prescription runs out?
Your child will most likely be on medication. Prescriptions are only renewed by our team at clinic appointments. You need to make sure you ask the medical team for your child’s next prescription while at clinic. If your child has a medical card, your GP will always need to re-write the prescription. If you forget to ask for a prescription at clinic, or your child’s prescription runs out at home, please contact your GP to renew your prescription. Your pharmacy may need to order in your child’s medicine, so do not leave renewals until the last week.
Transition to Adult Services
What happens as my child gets older and needs to move to adult services?
The GI team here have links with the adult Gastroenterologists around the country, and your child’s transition on to the appropriate adult centre will be discussed with you and your child when the time is right. We aim to introduce adolescents to their adult gastroenterology team when they are around 16 years old.
The IBD Multi-disciplinary Team & Contact Details
Members of the IBD Multi-disciplinary Team
- Consultant Gastroenterologists
- Social Worker
Our social worker is there to provide practical and psycho-social support to the parents of children with IBD. - Dietician
- Psychology
Our psychologist is there to support young people and their families to cope positively with all aspects of IBD. Should you wish to avail of Psychology, please contact our CNS team to arrange a referral. - Clinical Nurse Specialists
You will be allocated a team of Clinical Nurse Specialists after a diagnosis of IBD.
Email: ibd.nurses@childrenshealthireland.ie
Office hours: 8am–4pm, Monday–Friday
- GI Secretaries
Email: gi.unit@childrenshealthireland.ie - GI Infusion Scheduling Team
Email: gi.scheduling@childrenshealthireland.ie
Contact Us
Voicemail Service (8am–1pm): 01 428 2593
Email: ibd.nurses@childrenshealthireland.ie
Clinic appointments: 01 428 2528
Email: medicaltower.apts@childrenshealthireland.ie
Orlaith Casey, IBD Nurse
2026
Email links:
ibd.nurses@childrenshealthireland.ie
gi.unit@childrenshealthireland.ie
Parent Advocacy Groups
Email: info@gutsykids.ie Website: www.gutsykids.ie
Crohn’s & Colitis Society of Ireland