Are you struggling with your IBS and want to talk to a specialist healthcare professional?

Members of The IBS Network have full access to our medical support helpline which is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm.

If you have a medical question or would like help and support with your IBS, please pick up the phone and call one of our IBS specialist nurses.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the helpline.

What is the number?
The number is available to members through The IBS Network membership site. Log in or join here.

How much does it cost?
The helpline is free to members.

Why is the helpline only open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings?
The IBS Network is a charity and does not received any government funding. Funding for the charity and the helpline is received through a number of sources, including annual memberships, our online shop, and donations. The charity is only able to fund the helpline for three evenings per week at a cost of around £8,000 each year.

What if the number is engaged?
The helpline does get busy from time to time, often at just after 7pm, so if you don’t get through to the nurses the first time you call, please try again.

When is it open?
The helpline opens at 7pm and closes at 9pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

What if I have a question out of the helpline hours?
If you have a question of a medical nature please check The IBS Network website.
If your answer isn’t there you can submit a question online to our team of medical professionals, which includes gastroenterologists and dietitians. You can do this through the Ask the Experts facility. To access this, log in to your membership or join here. We endeavour to respond to your enquiry as soon as we can, it will usually be in around three days, but no more than five days.

What other membership benefits are available?
As a member of our community you have access to:

  • reliable information from trusted IBS specialists;
  • a Self-Care Programme and online Symptom Tracker which will help you to manage your condition;
  • ‘Ask the Experts’ facility, personal one to one contact through our website with our specialist healthcare professionals (including specialist gastroenterologists and gastro-dietitians);
    specialist IBS nurse helpline;
  • detailed factsheets, such as medications, stress, diarrhoea and constipation;
  • our quarterly magazine-Gut Reaction;
  • our monthly e-newsletter, Relief;
  • a growing library of IBS-friendly recipes updated monthly, and a
  • Can’t Wait card, including the international travel card.

How much does membership to The IBS Network cost?
Membership to The IBS Network starts from as little as £2 a month. This is £24 a year for online membership, or £34 a year for paper membership.
With membership from just £2 a month you will have access to specialist medical professionals and a whole range of other resources.

For more information visit The IBS Network website here.