A DIAGNOSTIC test intended to help doctors distinguish between inflammatory bowel diseases and conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome is still not available in GP surgeries – despite promises that it would arrive by the end of 2025.

In September last year, the JEP reported that faecal calprotectin testing was expected to be rolled out to primary care before the end of 2025.

The test has been widely used by GPs in the UK for more than a decade.

However, a new freedom-of-information response asking about its availability has confirmed that the test has yet to be introduced in Island GP practices.

The Health Department said in its response: “The test is not currently available to General Practitioners, though progress has been made towards this.”

Officials said approval had been granted to introduce the testing to primary care and that work was underway to enable electronic requests through the laboratory system.

According to the response, “the laboratory has been asked to set up the system option to enable electronic requesting”, after which a meeting will be held between Health Department representatives and the Primary Care Board “to agree final details and proceed with the rollout”.

Until the test becomes available to GPs, patients with symptoms suggesting inflammatory bowel disease must still be referred to hospital.

The Health Department said that once referred, a faecal calprotectin test is carried out and “if positive, an urgent colonoscopy is arranged”.

Faecal calprotectin testing helps doctors distinguish between inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and non-inflammatory conditions – such as irritable bowel syndrome.

National clinical guidance recommends its use to help avoid unnecessary endoscopic investigations and improve cost-effective care.

The test has been available to GPs in the UK since at least 2013, when it was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

The recent freedom-of-information response also addressed questions about newer drugs used to treat inflammatory bowel disease.

It confirmed that mirikizumab is available in Jersey, but only as a hospital-only prescription through Health and Care Jersey.

Two other medicines – ozanimod and etrasimod – are not currently available for prescription through Health and Care Jersey, according to the response.